Lahore: CM at round trip of city, takes notice of sewerage problems

[Naveed Yaseen]

* CM reprimands WASA authorities over steps taken ahead of monsoon
* WASA MD says new generators will arrive in 45 days
* MPAs tells CM that many tube-wells in city out of order

Staff Report

LAHORE: Chief Minister (CM) Mian Shahbaz Sharif on Tuesday ordered the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) to install power generators at all wastewater disposal stations and pumps within 48 hours and to make sure all manholes are covered in the next three weeks.

Chairing a meeting at the CM’s Secretariat to review the steps taken for the coming monsoon, the CM expressed dissatisfaction over WASA’s measures taken for the rainy season. Shahbaz told the authorities to set up emergency centres at every constituency with the help of the members of the Punjab Assembly (MPAs). He said that the emergency centres’ staff should be in regular contact with the MPAs concerned. He added that the centres’ telephone numbers and their officials’ mobile phone numbers should be displayed to facilitate the public.

Generators on the way: The WASA managing director told the CM that an order to purchase new generators for disposal pumps and stations had already been given and the purchase and installation process would take 45 days. Shahbaz said that the monsoon would start before 45 days and installing generators after that would be useless. The CM reprimanded WASA for negligence and not taking steps in time. He said the WASA officials should be brought to court to teach them how to do things.

The CM said that a power general should be placed at every wastewater disposal plant within two days even if WASA had to rent them or buy reconditioned ones. He said the monsoon was already on its way and WASA had no alternative power to cope with the electricity problems that occur in every monsoon. He said that when the new generators arrived they should be put up at the disposal pumps and stations permanently.

Shahbaz also told the WASA authorities to make sure that the garbage taken out of drains should be lifted immediately instead of leaving it beside the drains.

MPAs meet CM: Earlier in the day, several MPAs met the CM and told him that many tube wells in the city were out of order due to the authorities’ ill planning. They said that the federal government had provided the WASA Rs 500 million for water schemes, but the authority had not been able to utilise the funds and had to return them.

The CM said that the matter was of a sensitive nature and ordered the CM Inspection Team to investigate it and take action against those responsible.

Shahbaz also directed the authorities to submit an inquiry report within three days about the sewerage problems of Misri Shah, Tajpura Scheme and Shahdara.

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