Lack of funds mar cistern project

The Lawrence Garden rainwater storage tank which was supposed to be complete in three months after its launch, still stands incomplete even after eight months of spadework, official sources have confirmed.

During the last monsoon season, the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) had even released water into the incomplete tank giving an impression that the project had been completed although the structure still lacks several components and is work-in-progress.

The contractor, who was hired to work on the Pakistan Tehreeke-Insaf (PTI) government's model rainwater harvesting pilot project, said he has stopped work owing to outstanding dues.

He claims he spent Rs80 million on the project but has only been reimbursed Rs40million by the authorities. “The delay in payment has supplemented the task backlog as well as increase in overall project cost,” he explained. Sources said the contractor has also relocated the construction machinery to another site since from September onwards no funds were released by the finance department.

Even in such circumstances, former WASA Deputy Managing Director Asghar Bhali said, the contractor is bound to implement the project as per the agreement. “However, in case of delay, the contractor can claim an increase in the price of materials such as cement and iron rods. This in turn increases the cost of the project,” he explained. It is worth noting that the drains meant to collect rainwater for storage in the reservoir have not been constructed yet.

The roof is still supported by rusted shuttering waiting to be completely built while the base of the tank remains uneven too. The budget of the entire project was set at Rs150 million and was included in the last financial year. The project, described as a life-changing for Lahore, was meant to serve as an example for the construction of more rainwater cisterns at 20 other places in the city. Out of all these projects, project cycle (PC) one of 10 projects was also prepared and sent to the Punjab Housing and Public Health Engineering Department for approval.

The proposed sites for these reservoirs include Tajpura, Railway Station, Sheranwala Gate, Gaddafi Stadium, Kashmir Road and Cooper Road. The plan was also brought to the notice of President Arif Ali and Prime Minister Imran Khan. Later, Punjab chief minister directed the civic administration to replicate similar projects in other major cities of Punjab to overcome water shortage and urban flooding.

Provincial Minister for Housing and Public Health Engineering Mian Mahmoodur Rashid had laid the foundation stone of the project in February 2019 which later succumbed to delays and failed to meet the required standards. Lawrence Garden rainwater storage tank, when completed, would be able to store 1.5 million gallons of water in its 15-foot-deep cistern.

The project aims at serving 30 acres of catchment area by holding urban-flood water for use in horticulture. Experts hope that the project would also help replenish ground water in Lahore. Interestingly, there was also a plan to put two feet of soil on the roof of the water tank to plant grass, which may later be utilized as a badminton court. However, dearth of funds prevented the builders from completing the roof and hence other components during the designated months.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, WASA Managing Director (MD) Zahid Aziz said that funds would be released for the project and the remaining work would be completed soon. “The purpose of building the Lawrence Garden Water Storage Tank is being fulfilled as the rainwater is being stored in the cistern,” he stated, adding that only the construction of roof is left after which grass would be planted over it.

He vowed that the project would be completed in the current financial year whereas WASA Spokesperson Imtiaz Ghauri is confident that the work on the project would be completed by the end of this month.