MULTAN:Managing Director Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) Jawad Kaleemullah said that WASA was facing challenges due to the deterioration of sewerage and water supply systems in Multan city and stressed upon the need of some mega projects for replacement of old sewerage lines of the city.
In a meeting with the delegation of the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) here Tuesday, the WASA chief said that old lines were being replaced rapidly to meet the challenges being faced by the company in resolving public issues. He said that several cases of crown failure were reported from different areas of the city due to the decay of more than 1200 km of sewerage network.
Jawad Kaleemullah said that to prevent these incidents, there was an urgent need of mega projects to replace bad conditioned sewerage lines. He said that WASA was providing drainage to 65% of Multan’s population while providing water to 55% of the population. The construction of a sludge carrier and waste water treatment plant for proper disposal was among the top priorities.
Briefing to the delegation, he said that WASA was providing drainage facilities to more than 1.4 million people in Multan city and water supply to more than 1.2 million people adding that 59 million gallons sewage water out of 300 gallons was being discharged into Chenab River daily after natural treatment through the 11 kilometer long Suraj Miani Waste water Treatment Plant constructed at 184 acre land which was completed with the support of the Asian Development Bank.
He said that work continued on another project of 30 kilometer long sludge carrier to process 238 million gallons sewage water received from the city’s South and Central zones through the Waste Water Treatment Plant near Sher Shah into the River Chenab. He said that the project was being completed under Punjab Intermediate Cities Infrastructure Investment Program.
Later, the delegation visited Rashidabad Grassy Plot, Wahadat Colony Ground, Suraj Miani Disposal Station and Suraj Miani Waste Water Treatment Plant where they were also briefed about the storm water project at Rashidabad and Waterworks roads for the monsoon season.
Director Engineering WASA Abdul Salam, Director Recovery Mansoor Ahmed, Deputy Director Planning and Design Muhammad Nadeem, XEN Public Health Engineering Adnan Naseem and other concerned officers were also present in the meeting.