The Punjab government will spend Rs 15 billion on sewerage and drainage schemes across the province during the current fiscal year, with 60 percent of the funds being allocated to schemes in rural areas. Of the allocated amount, a major portion will go to the completion of ongoing schemes while the rest will be used to start new projects, officials sources said on Monday. The programme includes rehabilitation, augmentation of trunk and secondary sewerage and improvement of drainage.
Sources said that water treatment plants are being installed in Lahore and Multan for environment-friendly disposal of sewerage. Moreover, even in this modern day and age, safe drinking water was still a dream in most parts of the province and people were drinking unhygienic and contaminated water, they added. Sensing the gravity of the situation, the government has allocated Rs 2.6 billion to provide clean drinking water to people by installing water filtration plants across the province. The project includes replacement of rusted pipes, laying new water supply lines, outsourcing water metering in phases in all WASA-served areas, replacement of outdated tube wells with new ones and upgrade of water purification facilities.
