Rs200 million allocated to shift water supply on solar energy

CS order restoration of non-functional water supply schemes in the province

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Secretary Yousuf Naseem Khokhar on Friday directed the Housing and Urban Development Department to prepare a comprehensive plan for the restoration of non-functional water supply schemes in the province and their conversion to solar energy.

He issued these directions while presiding over a meeting at Civil Secretariat. The meeting decided to allocate Rs200 million for the conversion of existing water supply schemes to solar energy. The chief secretary said the provision of clean drinking water to people was the top priority of the government, adding that like cities steps were being taken to ensure supply of clean drinking water to rural areas as well.

He directed the secretary housing that keeping in view the reasons behind the failure of some water supply schemes in past, proper planning be done for the success of such projects of public importance in future. He mentioned that Water and Power Division should be approached for the restoration of water supply schemes which are non-functional only due to unavailability of electricity or faulty transformers.

The meeting was attended by Planning and Development chairman, secretaries of different departments including finance, irrigation, local government, managing directors of WASAs of Lahore, Rawalpindi and Faisalabad and officers concerned.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 1^st, 2019.