Parliamentary Housing and Urban Development Secretary Zafar Iqbal Nagra told the Punjab Assembly on Wednesday that WASA Lahore had detected 6,935 illegal water and 1,052 sewage connections after a crackdown during 2009.
Besides, he said, a sum of Rs 26.39 million had been recovered in fines received from defaulters.
Answering the questions of members during the question-hour session regarding the Housing and Urban Development Deprtment, he said illegal water and sewage connections were found at the Allama Iqbal Town, Aziz Bhatti, Shalimar, Ganj Bukhsh, Ravi Town and Nishtar Town.
He stated that the government was attaching high priority to the provision of basic amenities to the public and that a hefty amount would be allocated in the next budget.
“A number of new housing projects will also be launched aiming at providing shelter to homeless families,” he added.
In reply to a question by MPA Nighat Nasir Sheikh, he said a team was being formed to carry out a crackdown on junk yards in Gulshan-e-Ravi. The secretary was asked to explain whether or not the LDA had taken action against junk yards after a number of explosions had already taken place in the vicinity.
Replying to a question raised by Amna Ulfat, he told the House that special teams had been constituted for cleaning the gutters at UC-88.
Responding to PPP’s Sajida Mir’s question, Nagra said two tube wells had so far been installed at the Sher Shah Colony Raiwind which, he claimed, were operational.
