Welcome aid: Rs1.6b Japanese aid for water supply in Faisalabad

The project will save 20% electricity costs and increase water supply capacity by 40%.

FAISALABAD:

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has approved Rs1.64 billion for replacing the outdated water supply and pumping machinery of Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) in Faisalabad.

WASA Managing Director Syed Zahid Aziz said on Monday the agency had requested JICA to provide financial assistance for completion of new and existing water supply and sewerage projects.

“JICA responded positively and formally approved the release of funds worth Rs1.64 billion for replacing the old machinery with new one,” he said.

He said the Japanese-funded project would start in June 2015. “The Punjab government has assured us that it will provide Rs110 million for the project as well. The completion of this project will help save 20 percent electricity costs. It will also increase our water supply capacity by 40 percent,” Aziz said.

The official said WASA was still using equipment it had installed in 1991 which it had not been able to replace due to lack of fund.

“The old machinery for water supply pumping projects dating back to 1991 is the main cause of low water pressure. The administration had decided to replace the machinery with more powerful modern equipment. However that could not be done due to funding shortage,” he said.

“WASA is facing severe financial constraints. Several projects for improving water supply and sewerage system in the city have been put on hold due to this. Hardly 40 percent of the city’s population has access to government-supplied potable water,” Aziz said. He said the underground water in Faisalabad was brackish. “That is why WASA had to install tube-wells at Chenab River and then construct a 26-kilometre pipeline to bring this water to the city,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 1^st, 2014.