WASA tanks to raise groundwater level

Scheme for underground storage of rainwater to cost Rs1.25b

LAHROE:

The government has decided to build underground water tanks in different parts of the city at a cost of Rs1.25 billion to protect it from inundation after rain and to raise the groundwater level.

The Federal Flood Department has assured  the authorities of funding to complete the project. The Lahore Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) has launched the initial small projects that, it hopes, would also permanently mitigate the problems faced by the citizens, especially commuters, during monsoon rains.

Under the plan, 27 important areas and roads of the city that are most affected by rains have been identified.

 WASA has installed rain gauges in 16 areas, including Jail Road, Gulberg, Lakshmi Chowk, Airport, Upper Mall, Mughalpura, Tajpura, Nishtar Town, Nolakha, Paniwala Talab, Farrukhabad, Gulshan Ravi, Iqbal Town, Samanabad, Johar Town and Punjab University.

In case of heavy rains in these areas, water is being pumped out through machines and drains to ensure early clearance of the areas and less inconvenience to the citizens. Similarly, WASA has selected 11 major roads in the city to build underground tanks for storing drained rainwater. This is the first such scheme being implemented in the country. The construction work is expected to cost Rs1.25 billion.

Each of the tanks will have a storage capacity of 150,000 gallons of water. Rainwater will flow out from the roads and will be stored in the underground tanks. This will help maintain the traffic flow on the roads.

The tanks were planned at Waris Road, Gaddafi Stadium, Ali Zeb Road, Gulberg, Railway Station, Chowk Nakhoda, Karim Park, Ravi Road, Sabzi and Fruit Mandi, Rasool Park, Tajpura and Kashmir Road. The construction of underground tank on Lawrence Road has been completed, which proved useful in draining water during recent the recent monsoon rains.

Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar also inspected it and expressed satisfaction over the work.