LAHORE:
Lahore’s first Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) is set to be installed by the Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) in collaboration with the French government.
French engineers and consultants have finished their research and a feasibility report to install the plant at Mehmood Booti site is ready. Wasa has 650 kanals at Mehmood Booti and is negotiating with the Forest Department and private land owners to acquire more land.
The consultants will provide the technical facilities and coordination for the project.
The cost is estimated at 100 million euros and the French government has sanctioned a soft loan of 70 million euros at a 1.6 per cent interest rate. The Punjab government is providing the rest. The loan re-payment is scheduled in 40 installments over a period of 20 years.
As no local company can meet the requirements of the tender, the contract for installation will be granted through international tendering. The machinery required for the WWTP will also be imported through international tenders.
Wasa managing director Dr Javed Iqbal said the installation of the WWTP would be a step forward for the sanitation agency. He said the work would start next month and take at least three years.
Dr Iqbal said Wasa’s lack of trained staff to install the plant meant that French engineers would coordinate the project. “The French will also take care of the operation and maintenance of the plant for three years.” He said that foreign engineers would train the Wasa staff during their three year stay. Six other sites, Babu Sabu, Khokhar Road, Shahdara, Multan Road, Raiwand and south east of Ferozepur Road, in Lahore have been identified by Wasa for installation of similar plants.
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is already conducting studies for the installation of another plant near Babu Sabu. Japanese engineers are conducting the surveys and Wasa is hoping that the JICA will also provide funds for the project. Wasa is negotiating with the JICA to sanction a loan for this project.
A Wasa official said that the plant is costly and once installed Wasa will have to set up a separate directorate to operate it. He said that millions of rupees will be required monthly for the maintenance of the plant. He added that if the plant can generate electricity from the waste water sludge then it would be good news otherwise the high cost of electricity might make the operation of the plant prohibitive.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 28th, 2011.
I strongly purpose that Wasa should take it serious to train their staff. If they are doing a capacity building which is always temporary. Its high time to realize that energy crises should be handled seriously and maturely. Also raise a awareness among nation regarding this so if at any level they can contribute they could join hands.
It’s great to hear that Lahore will finally have a waste water treatment plant. I agree that we need to build our own local capacity in order to maintain and build upon this.
With our countries history of power black outs, what conclusion did the original assessment into this project draw on the efficiency of this plant if power cuts are taken into acount?
It sounds that one WASA official is already worried about the running costs! Should this not have been thought through before taking the leap?
Surely Pakistan’s need of the hour is improving power generation capacity. I am sure there are other cheaper options available. If we cobble together the money spent here plus the money proposed for NA membersb lodgings etc we can generate a considerable sum that can help power generation plans etc.
Lahore is at the forefront of civic development in Pakistan. The Waste Water teatment plant is just another example of how the city is looking to tomorrow. I agree that the energy issue must be tackled but this must be tackled in a national level. I think that there will be more energy on line by the end of this year according to many reports.Even still , energy production shouldn’t get in the way of setting up basic facilities and improving infrastructure. One shouldn’t be done at the expense of the other. I am still wating to see some organized mass transit system for Lahore which will relieve congestion in the city and make it greener.