Wastewater treatment plants yet to be installed

No practical steps have been taken to control pollution levels in River Ravi

LAHORE: Pollution levels in River Ravi keep rising steadily, harming the organisms living underwater and contaminating groundwater. Due to the apathy of past governments and the current, wastewater treatment plants have not been installed to tackle this growing problem.

The cost of the project has increased by Rs10 billion, coming to a grand total of Rs50 billion which is to be funded by the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). However, over the past 27 years, national and international companies have managed to extract millions of rupees in the name of ‘consultancy’. But the project has still not been approved.

Past governments, as well as the current, had made tall claims regarding measures to control pollution levels in River Ravi. However, no practical steps have been taken in this regard. Housing societies, factories, residential areas and even localities can be spotted on the river bank. These structures have been built without any kind of planning, without keeping in mind the possibility of flooding.

Further, effluent and sewage from factories and residential areas is flowing into the river without being treated. Waste from sewerage drains all across the provincial capital is flowing into River Ravi, polluting the water and making it uninhabitable for fish and other under water life.

Vegetables cultivated around the river, and irrigated by the contaminated water, also pose a threat to citizen’s lives. The food department has declared these vegetables harmful and has disposed of crops being grown on the river bank.

In 1992, AIIB presented a proposal regarding establishing wastewater treatment plants in different areas of the city including Babu Sabu, Mehmood Boti, Shadbagh and Shahdara. The estimated cost of the project was Rs40 billion at the time. However, as the situation has deteriorated, the cost for the project has gone up to Rs50 billion.

Previously, the services of foreign companies from Singapore, France, Austria and England were taken for consultancy. Under the project, 912 acres of land has been purchased in Babu Sabu while there are plans to purchase 60 acres in Shahdara and 250 acres in Mehmood Boti.

In 2013, National Engineering Services Pakistan (NESPAK) was brought in as consultants but no decision was taken. Now, work on the project has begun once again and the company has been brought in to consult on the scheme for Rs130 million. In this regard, they will submit a report in three months.

Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) MD Zahid Aziz said that the project is of prime importance. After NESPAK presents their report, federal and provincial governments will have to approve the proposal.

Once approval is given, AIIB will provide Rs50 billion needed for the project and work can begin on installing wastewater treatment plants in the city, he explained.

Once the treatment plants are set up, pollution levels in River Ravi and the contamination of groundwater can be curbed. Not only will this help in protecting life in the river but it can also help in preventing a shortage of groundwater in Lahore, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 11^th, 2019.