WASA fails to meet schemes’ deadline

LAHORE:

Despite receiving billions of rupees, the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) could not meet the target set for 105 development schemes of sewerage.

Work on 30% of development projects could not be done while work on 70% is in progress.

So far, 40% work has been completed.

WASA has set a deadline of February 15 to complete the work. The estimated cost is Rs1.19 billion, of which 40% work has been completed so far.

According to details, the Punjab government has approved Rs3.75 billion for 105 development schemes to be set up by WASA, including schemes of members of National and Provincial Assemblies, to deal with the complaints of people regarding sewerage and water supply in different areas of the provincial capital.

Initially Rs1.19 billion was released to the Finance Department on the direction of Punjab government so that work could be started immediately.

The development schemes implemented by WASA include Union Councils 57,58,59,62,65,66,67,68,69,72 and 73 for which an estimated cost of Rs200 million was incurred but only Rs30 million was released but work could not be started on it.

Similarly the sewerage system in various union councils of the city including 57,58,59,61,62,63,64,65,66,67,68,69,72 and 73 is nearly non-existent. People experience severe distress in normal days and especially in the rainy days.

An estimated cost of Rs200 million has been sanctioned for laying new sewerage lines in the affected streets of these areas, but only Rs20 million was released.

Rs750,000 has been spent so far. Rs150 million has been spent for improvement of sewerage system from College Road Johar Town Muhammad Ali Chowk to Amir Chowk, Rs40 million has been released for the project but Rs25 million has been spent so far.

Rs100 million has been allocated for laying tiles on Kamahan Clean Drinking Water and Rs20 million has been released of which Rs10.4 and Rs4 million has been spent so far.

Rs20 million out of Rs10.3 million on fifteen tubewells with filtration plants at Gulistan Colony Infantry Road Dharampura, Garhi Shahu, Mian Mir Ahata Mol Chand Ichhra, Shah Jamal and Basti Allah Hu were released but work hasn't started here yet.

Similarly, tube-well and filtration plants at Qazi Town Sadiqpura and Jinnah Colony Bastami Road are to be installed at a cost of Rs50 million. Rs10 million was released but work could not be started.

PCC and water supply lines were to be replaced in the streets of Union Council 232, the estimated cost is Rs50 million. Rs10 million was released but work could not be done.

Union Councils 238,239 had to spend Rs20 million and Rs2.5 million for repair of sewerage and water supply lines. All the money was received but work could not start.

Over Rs10 million was released out of Rs80 million for pumping station in Allama Iqbal Town Kamran Block Vegetable and Fruit Market but work could not be started.

Similarly, out of 105 development schemes, work on 35 schemes could not be started while work on 70 schemes is in progress.

People continue to face problems due to non-commencement of work on 35 development schemes. In this regard, Deputy Managing Director of WASA, Muhammad Ghufran, said that development work in Ghusa starts after monsoon season and continues till about September 15, therefore most of the work in 105 development schemes has been completed and work on the rest is also in progress.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 22^nd, 2022.