Lahore: Danish International Development Assistance (DANIDA) will help Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) to construct a wastewater treatment plant at an estimated cost of USD 100 million, media sources reported.
The Danish firm has agreed to provide the treatment plant with financial and technical assistance. According to reports, the treatment facility would be constructed at WASA’s disposal station on Kartar Bund Road in the Southern Lahore region.
DANIDA was looking for a consultant to carry out the feasibility study, while WASA was drafting out Terms of Reference (TOR) for engaging a consultant.
According to WASA’s Managing Director (MD), Syed Zahid Aziz, the project’s estimated cost is USD 100 million, of which 65% will be provided as a soft-term loan and the remaining 35 % as financial aid. He went on to say that Lahore is the second-largest metropolis in Pakistan and is rapidly growing. A wastewater treatment plant is desperately needed in the city. Currently, waste water is released into the Ravi River via the 13 disposal stations. However, no water treatment facility has been installed.
On a daily basis, roughly 1,000 cusecs of untreated effluent, including household sewage, are released into River Ravi. The lack of treatment plants has harmed the sanitary conditions in the area and poses a threat to Lahore’s groundwater reservoir.
Seven treatment plants will be constructed in various places as part of this programme. M/s Balfour has identified six potential locations for the wastewater treatment facility and has completed a feasibility assessment. The project’s objectives, according to WASA Managing Director Syed Zahid Aziz, were to treat and reuse wastewater for irrigation purposes. Once treated, the water will be delivered to the Punjab Irrigation Department at the Lahore branch Canal near Thokar Niaz Baig. The project will also improve the water quality of the Ravi River.
Talking about the details of the project, the plant will comprise a service area of 5,000 acres and capacity will be around 244,700 cubic metres/day. WASA managing director stated that the Standing Committee of Cabinet on Finance and Development has approved the project and work on it will start soon.
Iqra holds BS in International Relations and is passionate about writing engaging content on trending real estate topics. When not working, she is either spending time with family, shopping, or discussing shows & movies.
