Jallo Park renovation to cost Rs23.2 million

LAHORE: The task of cleaning up and renovating the 40-year-old lake in Lahore’s Jallo Park continues as expansion by three feet was completed through de-silting and by placing large rocks along the banks of the lake.

The project will be completed with a total cost of Rs23.2 million. Sub-division Forest Officer Ishtiyaq Younus said that the lake of Jallo Park and the small island built inside the park are being repaired and decorated. He confirmed that this lake was made in the 1970s and its condition had become worse over the last 40 years.

“There was no drainage system in the lake due to which the water was smelly. Tourists would throw litter and plastic bottles in the lake while sand at the banks also flows into the lake with rainwater due to which the lake’s depth was decreasing.”

He added that three feet along the lake’s width has been excavated, litter and sand have been de-silted and separate ways have been made for adding and releasing water.

“The water released from the lake will be used for watering trees and plants. Rocks have been placed on the banks of the lake located around 2.5 acres of land and is not cemented so that water from the lake can be absorbed by the ground,” he said. He explained that this would increase the level of underground water in the nearby areas. He further said that more plants and trees will be planted in the island located in the lake and in its surroundings.

“A number of trees that were tilting have been recovered by adding sand on the lake’s banks and a track has been made by placing tiles on them. There was only one point for boating in the lake but now there are three points of which two are for motor boats and one for pedal boat.”

The officer further said that a large waiting area has been made for the people who come for boating in the lake. “For the first time, lighting arrangements have been made in the island. Similarly, a security room has been made to monitor the lake and its surroundings through CCTV cameras.”

He remarked that families that visit Jallo Park for recreation have expressed satisfaction over development work especially on repair and decoration of the lake. “Citizens are waiting for the completion of the project as soon as possible.”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 24^th, 2019.