Daily Times

LAHORE: Uninterrupted supply of water to citizens in the largest city of Punjab was becoming a major challenge for the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA).

WASA has failed to provide nonstop supply of clean drinking water to Lahoris, which was not only causing annoyance among people but was also increasing the number of protests against the agency.

WASA covered 40 percent area of the city while other areas came under the jurisdiction of other concerned departments, including City District Government Lahore and Public Works department (PWD). According to the WASA officials, the demand of water increased from 40 percent to 60 percent in the summer season every year, resulting in shortage of water.

According to media reports, out of 516 tub wells, 105 have completed their life but were still functional due to lack of alternative resources. Approximately 45 percent water was being received from 106 tub wells despite their dilapidated conditions. As per the last survey report, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) was given the responsibility of replacing these downgrade tub wells with latest ones.

On Sunday, residents of Hameedpura, Hassanabad, held a protest demonstration against the WASA officials and appealed Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif to address their grievances pertaining to shortage of water in the area.

A large number of residents, including senior citizens and children, were carrying banners in their hands and chanted slogans against WASA over their poor performance. Protesters said that they have been compelled to record protest against WASA after several months of false promises.

They said that water pipeline in the area was out of order, which was breaking the flow of water. They said that no tube well was installed in their area, which was a major issue, adding that WASA was not interested in resolving the issue.

Separately, residents of Shah Kaml area near Wahdat Colony also recorded protest over the poor performance of WASA, which failed to ensure uninterrupted water supply in the area. The protestors said that the water supply lines were overlapping with the sewerage lines, making the drinking water dirty.

It is pertinent to mention that unclean drinking water has caused health diseases among the local residents, especially children.