Rainwater storage a must for new projects
There is an urgent need for engines to drain water out of the fields. photo: Express
The Punjab government has decided make it mandatory to build rainwater storage facilities in new construction projects to resolve the serious issue of water shortage being faced in several districts. The government announced that no construction projects in the province would be approved without the inclusion of the rainwater storage facility in the plan.
According to sources, 23 types of projects, including fish farms, petroleum refineries, textile and garment units and education institutions will not be allowed to begin construction without arrangements for rainwater storage.
Due to climate change, lack of rains and other factors, the shortage of water has become a serious problem in several parts of the province, prompting the government to address the issue.
The groundwater level has also dropped in several districts, including Rawalpindi, Chakwal, Faisalabad, Narowal, Gujranwala, Gujrat and Lahore. The situation regarding the availability of drinking water is a matter of concern especially in the summer. The water shortage is affecting the residents of urban as well as rural areas, including the agriculture sector.
In many areas, the residents rely on tanks or fetch drinking water from outside their homes. The quality of the drinking water in several districts has also deteriorated, increasing the risk of waterborne diseases.
In view of the situation, the Punjab government has decided to make compulsory the provision of water storage tanks in new construction projects.
In future, new construction projects will not be approved without a plan of water storage in the design.
In a meeting presided over by Punjab Environment DG Imran Hamid Sheikh to discuss the issue of water shortage, 23 types of projects were identified that would be bound to show water storage facilities in the design before the start of construction. A spokesperson for the environment protection department the decision will be applied immediately and in this connection a notification has been issued and an advice sent to all departments.
"In the notification it was instructed that rainwater storage should be included in new construction projects. The monitoring departments will analyse the rainwater storage plans before giving the permission for the construction projects. Parameters was discussed in the meeting for the rainwater storage plans," the spokesman said. All new educational institutions, bus stations, wagon stands, airports, housing societies, commercial buildings and marriage halls will compulsorily show the planning for rainwater storage. All sugar, chemical, pharma, paper, food, rice, cement industries and fuel stations will also be bound to ensure rainwater storage.