Officials say delay has prevented work on two wastewater treatment plants. PHOTO: AFP
Sources in Wasa and the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) told APP on Sunday that the grant of approximately Rs950 million for the first quarter (July-September) of financial 2013-14 had not been transferred to the Wasa account so far. The shortage of funds would not just affect ongoing development projects, but several new schemes that were to be started as well, the sources said, such as feasibility studies for two wastewater treatment plants on the banks of the Ravi.
Wasa Deputy Managing Director (Engineering and Finance) Aftab Dhillon, when asked about the delay, said that he expected the funds to be released shortly, after which work on all projects would resume.
He said that under normal circumstances, the grant was supposed to be released in August or early September. He was not aware of the reason for the delay, he added.
Wasa is expecting total receipts of Rs9.051 billion in financial 2013-14, while it plans to spend Rs9.988billion, including Rs2.064 billion on development schemes.
These include Rs261 million for the construction of a wastewater treatment plant at Mahmood Booti/Salamatpura, and Rs225 million for a plant at Babu Sabu.
Other projects include the replacement of outlived and damaged water supply lines with HDPE pipes at a cost of Rs100 million; the provision of water supply, sewerage and drainage systems in UC 117, 118, 119 and 120 at a cost of Rs50 million; the Punjab Water and Sanitation Academy in Lahore at a cost of Rs75 million; restoration of the original cross section (40 feet) of Sattukatla Drain from Ferozepur Road to PECO Road at Rs100 million; and a project for the purchase of water meters to curb water theft at a cost of Rs200 million.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 30th, 2013.
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