The Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) Faisalabad has decided to update its Master Plan to meet the growing requirements of the industrial city, where fifty percent of the populace are still without drinking water and sewerage facilities.
Addressing members of the Rotary Club Faisalabad, Dr Arshad Mahmood, MD WASA, said that several projects for water supply and sewerage in the industrial city are under construction, which will be completed at the cost of Rs 6.430 billion. Furthermore, many schemes are in the pipeline for approval, which will be completed with estimated combined costs of Rs 1.57 billion.
He mentioned that WASA requires young qualified workers for its human resources, while it was also decided that an "Energy Audit" would be conducted. WASA is planning to install a power plant to meet its energy requirements, Mahmood also announced. The MD said that WASA's water and sewerage net work has a circumference of over 1428 and 1575 square km. respectively. Presently, he added, seven cranes are busy desilting channels in the city.
He further highlighted that the WASA service area is over 225 square km, which will gradually be increased. WASA was fulfilling the requirements of 0.7 million people in 1978, but now this organisation provides services to 2.8 million people. Mahmood added that 65 million gallons of water are being supplied to the city, while it requires 130 million gallons.
The main supply of water is from the Chenab wheel field, 27 km outside the city, from where 90 percent of the city's water is being supplied. Therefore, he told the audience, WASA is trying to obtain its water through other sources. He announced that they have planned to obtain and treat 100 K of water from the Rakh Branch Canal.
The WASA MD said that 33 disposal stations are working currently, though some are working at low capacity. The channel's length is 62 km and 50 percent of the water lines are full of slit. At various places, he admitted, these channels are creating severe hardships for the public.
There was a 1000 yard Cord-portion at Saeed Abad with a big blockage, and WASA awarded a contract of Rs 1.8 million to a private company. After great hardship, Mahmood narrated, Crane Operator Mr Mohammad Afzal succeeded in removing the blockage after a three day struggle and saved Rs 1.2 million.
He said that 590 Industrial Waste Units are available in the city, out of which 200 are large units. The same units are available in populated city area and due to this, the sewerage system is being affected. The MD of WASA stated that they are appointing more sewerage-men for the maintenance and improvement of their sewerage system.
He added that He added that the sewerage men were put into gangs and started to clean the sewerage lines. Commenting over the WASA's Budget 2008-09, he said that Rs 2.25 billion has been earmarked for the industrial city.
Rotary Club's members appreciated MD WASA's activities and expected fruitful improvement in the sewerage system. Rotary Club's members said they felt that the MD is properly managing the department. Earlier, the President Mr Khan Mohammad, Vice President Sh. Shafiq Ahmad, Secretary Anwar Mumtaz Qureshi and other leading members of Rotary Club were also addressed the meeting.