PHOTO: FILE

ISLAMABAD: The Balochistan government has planned to set up a Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) network in all major cities of the province to ensure quality drinking water and proper sanitation system.



The government has allocated a huge amount of Rs11.839 billion for the development schemes of the Public Health Engineering Department for the provision of a clean drinking water facility.



Talking to APP, Minister for Public Health Engineering Balochistan, Noor Muhammad Dummer said with an increase in Quetta city's population, the WASA has started finding practical solutions to increase its network to the new settlements. The provincial government has earmarked Rs 500 million for the project, he added.



"Presently, water is being supplied to the city by 450-500 tube-wells which are insufficient to meet the requisite demand," he said, adding the government had proposed to install more tube-wells in the city to overcome the water shortage issue.



He said WASA had been working for laying new water supply lines in the provincial capital to ensure potable water facility everywhere in the city. The minister said the government would establish online complaint cell in the WASA office to register complaints regarding delay in scheduled timings of water supply and also to evaluate the efficiency of the valve men.



Strict action would be taken against the misconduct of valve operators, Noor Muhammad said.



The WASA Quetta would sign an agreement with a Chinese company to install computerized valve management and monitoring system to regulate the supply valves.



The water woes of the three million people of Quetta are worsening with each passing day as the underground water levels have further declined to over 300 metres. The government is also working to stop the illegal drilling of tube-wells in the city.



According to the minster, proper measures have been taken to keep all the tube-wells in the city operational.



Published in The Express Tribune, September 23rd, 2019.