LAHORE, Sept 21: A Rs4 billion sewage treatment project has been lying stuck up since 1980s because of inordinate delay in the promised World Bank funding.
The Water and Sanitation Agency of the Lahore Development Authority designed the project for implementation under the Punjab Urban Development Project in the 1980’s. The project was to be funded by the World Bank.
Sullage water from the Buddha Darya, Main Outfall, Gulshan-i-Ravi and Multan Road pumping stations was to be channelized to Sabzazar Scheme for disposal into River Ravi after oxidation. A sullage water channel was to be built along the Bund Road for the purpose.
Sullage water was to be kept in ponds for 72 hours for oxidation and settlement of organic matter before its discharge into the river.
Oxidation process involved only retention of water in ponds for 72 hours for absorption of oxygen to make it safe for aqua life and irrigation after mixing with the river water after discharge.
Any expensive process was not proposed because the project was not expected to generate any revenue.
Oxidation ponds were made on two kanal areas in the University of Engineering and Technology for the treatment of sullage water on experimental basis before starting the work on the project.
The experiment continued for one year and three months and the results were found to be satisfactory.
Meanwhile, Wasa acquired 7300 kanals in Sabzazar Scheme at a cost of Rs730 million in anticipation of the receipt of the promised World Bank funds for the proposed oxidation ponds after the approval of the project compendium.
The World Bank delayed the release of funds after the acquisition of the land and designing of the project on the ground it would fund it under the Punjab Environment Improvement Project instead of the Punjab Urban Development Project.
Wasa has been waiting for the release of funds under the new project eversince but the World Bank is yet to honour its promise.
Walk: Hundreds of men and women participated in the World Alzheimer’s Day Walk here on Sunday.
Speaking to the participants in the walk at the Liberty Chowk Alfalah Park, chief minister’s adviser Dr Javed Asghar and Alzheimer’s Pakistan president Dr Zia Haider said Alzheimer’s patients deserved special attention as the disease affected them when they were above 60 and caused loss of memory with the result that they were unable to perform even the simplest task.
Dr Yasmin Rashed said Alzheimer’s patients should be treated with utmost love, patience and tolerance.
Provincial parliamentray secretary for health Dr Farzana Nazir said the government had decided to open a daycare centre for Alzheimer patients at the Ganga Ram Hospital. Similar centres would be opened at other teaching hospitals later on.