The Punjab government would spend Rs 14 billion on the provision of effective and efficient sewerage and drainage system during the current fiscal year in the province, official sources said on Saturday.
Of the allocated amount, 60 percent of the funds were being spent on schemes in rural areas. A major portion of the ongoing schemes will go for completing the ongoing schemes, while the rest would be used for the initiation of new projects, the sources added.
As drinking water is essential for human life, efficient sewerage is also necessary for people, especially to those living in rural areas, sources said, adding that the programme includes rehabilitation, augmentation of trunk and secondary sewerage systems and improvement of drainage system. They said that under the environment friendly disposal of sewerage, water treatment plants were being installed in Lahore and Multan.
The sources maintained that even in this modern age, the safe drinking water was still a dream in most parts of the province and people were drinking unhygienic and contaminated water. Hence the government has allocated Rs 2 billion for the provision of potable drinking water to people. For this purpose modern water filtration plants will be installed across the province.
The project includes the replacement of rusted pipes and laying new water supply lines, as well as the outsourcing of water metering in phases to the WASA-served areas. The project also includes the replacement of outdated tube-wells with new ones and up-gradation of the water purification facilities. Moreover, Rs 1.82 billion have also been earmarked for water supply schemes in areas where water was highly polluted.
