Punjab govt to expand rainwater storage project

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar on Thursday approved the expansion of an underground rainwater storage project in other cities after a successful trial in Lahore.

The approval for expansion was given at a meeting chaired by the chief minister to review the performance of the housing department.

The “Monsoon Underground Water Reservoir”, which took three months to be completed at Lahore’s Lawrence Garden, was built at the cost of Rs149 million. The water tank can hold up to 1.5 million gallons of water after a heavy downpour. The stored water will be used for horticulture and drinking purposes after purification.

Buzdar directed the housing department to ensure the gradual expansion of the project to other districts, adding that a new sewerage line would be constructed from Larex Colony to Gulshan Ravi at an estimated cost of Rs14 billion.

He added that the government was also working on a surface water treatment plant in the provincial metropolis at a cost of around Rs21 billion. The chief minister further added that a business plan had been devised so that the city’s Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) could operate according to modern requirements.

“A horticulture academy would also be set up in Lahore to train the people about the intricate art of garden cultivation and management,” Buzdar said.

The chief minister added the provision of clean drinking water projects under Aab Pak Authority will be moved forward speedily as access to clean water is the basic right of every citizen.

“Around Rs6 billion have been earmarked for the Aab Pak Authority to protect people from water-borne diseases,” Buzdar said. “The housing department should complete its public welfare projects within the stipulated period.”