Daily Times

LAHORE: In order to supply clean drinking water to Lahoris, the Punjab government has decided to build a water reservoir on the bank of Ravi River with a total outlay of Rs five billion, said Punjab Irrigation Minister Amanat Ullah Khan Shadi Khel while presiding over a departmental meeting here on Monday.

The minister said that the construction allied structures to supply clean drinking water to the provincial capital was a far-awaited project, which is now in progress. He said told depletion of groundwater due to rapid urbanisation had increased shortage of water in the city.

“This alarming situation was requiring some urgent policy and steps to be taken. In this connection, the Punjab government has decided to construct a water reservoir near the city to ensure underground water quality and improve its quantity,” he said, adding that the project is being started keeping in view the future needs of the citizens.

The minister said that Rs 41 billion had been allocated for a number of major irrigation and drainage schemes, including Jalalpur irrigation system and construction of Kas Umer Khan Canal costing Rs 2.5 billion.

He said that the Irrigation Department had completed work on New Khanki Barrage and a number of small dams last year while work on the remaining projects would also be completed in the stipulated time frame.