QUETTA, Oct 1: The federal government has released Rs320 million out of Rs845 million allocated for the current fiscal year for the greater Quetta water supply scheme.

Balochistan Water and Sewerage Authority (Wasa) Managing Director Hafizullah Awan said at a press conference here on Monday that the provincial government had also released Rs51.6 million for water development schemes for the city.

He said the government had approved six water projects since June 1998 to meet shortage of potable water in Quetta. The projects will cost Rs84.6 million.

The amount will be spent for sinking 31 tube-wells to replace the dried wells and 20 at new sites.

He said that 26 tube-wells had been installed, of which 13 were new and another 13 were replacements. Besides, installation of 22 tube-wells are in progress, including seven new ones.

He said that under the project, the city would get 20 million gallons water per day by June 2006 through a modern water supply system and it would be provided a proper sewerage system.

The government will discover water reservoirs in mountains outside Quetta valley to sink 55 test bores. The new tube-wells will be linked to the city water supply system, old pipelines will be replaced, pipelines in new areas will be laid and new water storage tanks will be constructed.

The sewerage and drainage project comprises laying of sewerage network in the city, recycling of sewerage water, construction of drainage system and rehabilitation of the old sewerage system.

Wasa MD said the project would cost Rs6 billion and would be completed in five years. He said the projects would also create job opportunities.

He said that 35 bores had been completed, of which 23 were successful.—APP