Conservation of historic buildings starts next week

MULTAN: Conservation work on various buildings in the Walled City is scheduled to begin next week, DCO Nadir Chattha told journalists on Monday. In the first phase, Haram Gate, Sarafa Bazaar and the Musafir Khana will be renovated at an estimated cost of Rs251 million, he said.

The DCO said a tunnel would be constructed to house electricity wires, telephone and TV cables, gas pipes and sewerage lines leading to the buildings. “The idea is to strengthen the structures and to lessen the risk of a building collapse.” He said consultants and contractors, hired for the project, have been told to complete conservation work at Haram Gate, Sarafa Bazaar and Musafar Khana by November 30.



Chattha said that the district administration had wanted to also start conservation work on the Clock Tower (Ghanta Ghar) but the Italian government had pledged to spend Rs110 million for that on the condition that the administration ensure satisfactory conservation work on Haram Gate, Sarafa Bazaar and the Musafir Khana in a timely manner.

The DCO said the administration was working hard to streamline the city’s traffic. He said that he and the regional police officer had visited various busy chowks in the city and had mulled over plans to improve traffic flow. He said soon citizens would not face any traffic inconvenience. “A grand anti-encroachment operation will be launched in the city soon…we think this will help improve traffic flow.”

The DCO said that 90 filtration plants in various locations in the city were operational.



Chattha said 40 of the filtration plants had been handed over to philanthropists who would look after the filtration plants. He said the philanthropists had taken on the responsibility. Several industrial groups had expressed interest in operating the remaining 50 filtration plants, the DCO said.

Responding to a question about sewerage issues in city, the DCO said that 11 complaints out of 23 had been resolved over the last three days. “The Water and Sanitation Authority (WASA) is extending complete cooperation for early resolution of problems regarding the sewerage,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 7^th, 2016.