LAHORE: The Water and Sanitation Authority (WASA) Lahore is planning to construct a 27km long underground sewerage line from the middle of the city to the River Ravi at a cost of Rs15 billion.
The proposed underground drain will replace two open sewerage drains which run from Home Economics College and Zafar Ali Road to River Ravi through Gulshan Ravi. The open drains will be used for the storage of rainwater and recreational activities.
"It is a three-year project and once the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) approves the loan for the project, it will be started. Our application is under consideration; however, we are hopeful that the work on the underground sewerage drain will commence next month," WASA Lahore Vice Chairman Sheikh Imtiaz Mahmood said while talking to Business Recorder here on Friday.
The WASA will use the latest technology for the construction of 27-km long tunnel; high-tech machines equipped with a laser will excavate the tunnel 30 feet below the surface. At the end of the underground tunnel, a water filtration plant will be installed on the embankment of the river and thus only after its treatment, the wastewater will be discharged into the river.
"To minimize the disturbance of routine life during construction, we are using laser technology. We are very much aware of the environmental impact of wastewater on a water channel and hence we are ensuring that the sewerage from the new line is treated before it is released into the River Ravi," he said.
As a part of the project, the said open drains will be converted into rainwater storage which will also be used for recreational activities, such as boating and fishing. Moreover, in an event of low rains, if needed, water from the BRB (Bambanwala-Ravi-Bedian) Canal will be taken to maintain a certain level in these drains.
The WASA Vice Chairman said that the amount of water taken from the BRB Canal will be returned to it after its treatment when there is a surplus of water in the open drains. "This is a multipurpose project: resolve drainage of wastewater effectively, conserve rainwater and create new recreational activities in the city. Right now, these open drains serve both the sewerage generated by the area and rainwater during the rainy session. By splitting the load, the overall drainage system of the area will improve," he added.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020
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