Amraiz Khan
Lahore
Punjab Aab Pak Authority has decided to make all non-functional filtration plants operational across Punjab including Lahore. Special teams will be constituted for functioning of such filtration plants. Planning has also been initiated to ensure provision of clean drinking water to 20 million people till June 2020. According to details, Governor Punjab Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar met with Punjab Aab Pak Authority’s Chairman General (Retd) Ahmed Saleem Mela, and the measures taken so far as well as future strategy of Punjab Aab Pak Authority were discussed in detail.
Speaking on this occasion, Governor Punjab Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar said that water quality of existing filtration plants in public and private sector will be examined for which ‘Water Quality Management’ teams have been constituted. The teams will ensure that people are being supplied quality water through filtration plants and the filtration plants providing sub-standard water will face heavy fines and other punishments.
The promise of provision of clean drinking water with the masses will be fulfilled at all costs, while lists of non-functional filtration plants have also been sought from respective district administrations and immediate steps will be taken for functioning of filtration plants in the light of those lists. In this connection, teams have also been formed and rural areas will be preferred with regard to new water filtration plants. Punjab Aab Pak Authority will ensure basic right of clean drinking water in every city of Punjab.
There is no doubt in it that 50 per cent of the diseases are caused due to non-availability of clean drinking water that can save the people from fatal diseases. He said that past rulers had doled out billions of rupees from national exchequer in the name of so-called clean drinking water projects for the people but unfortunately no past government could provide clean drinking water to people despite spending billions of rupees.