Punjab launches water meter drive

The Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) has approved the launch of three mega projects aimed at improving groundwater levels, installing new water meters and upgrading sewerage systems in 41 WASA-controlled cities across Punjab. The government has also appointed heads for these projects to ensure their full-scale launch and speedy completion. The combined estimated cost of the projects is around Rs5 billion. Senior BS-20 officer and Managing Director WASA Lahore Ghufran Ahmed has been appointed Project Director of the Punjab Development Programme-II for WASA. This will be an additional charge and he will continue to perform his duties as MD WASA. Under this programme, new drainage and sewerage systems will be designed and installed in 34 newly established WASA cities. The project has already begun in 16 WASAs during its first phase, while work in the remaining cities will start immediately after Eid. Preparation of design maps for sanitation and drainage systems has also begun. Senior BS-19 officer Imran Qureshi, Director Engineering, has been appointed Project Director of the "Installation of Recharge Wells" project, which aims to improve groundwater levels. Another BS-19 officer, Shazil Waqar, has been appointed Project Director for the "Installation of Water Meters" project. Under this project, modern water meters similar to electricity and gas meters will be installed in all WASA cities across Punjab. The installation of meters will help prevent water theft and eliminate illegal connections. Every consumer will have a separate modern meter and will pay a monthly bill according to the amount of water used. Under the recharge wells project, measures will be taken to channel rainwater underground during rainy seasons. Open land will be maintained along parks, offices, plazas and roads so that rainwater does not go to waste through drains. Modern techniques will be used to direct rainwater into the ground quickly. The project has been successfully launched in Lahore. Currently, groundwater levels have dropped beyond 700 feet and continue to decline due to drought, reduced rainfall, the absence of open soil areas and the increasing number of tube wells in both public and private sectors. Authorities have also decided to shift future water supply towards surface water from dams and rivers instead of relying primarily on groundwater extracted through tube wells.