The Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) has proposed a Rs25,000 per cusec charge to private tubewells supplying water to private housing schemes, The Express Tribune has learnt.
Lahore Development Authority (LDA) officials said the Strategic Policy Unit of the authority had been working with the WASA since late November to determine the rates. They said the amended LDA Act 1975 allowed the authority to charge such rates.
According to LDA data, there are 1,309 tubewells installed in private housing schemes which charge their residents various rates for the water.
The WASA receives nothing out of it.
They said there are 498 tubewells in WASA-controlled areas.
Revenue Director Rana Tikkah Khan said the agency had proposed per cusec charges to the LDA.
He said the approval “might take some time.”
He said the WASA could not charge private housing facilities what they charged in areas where they had to lay pipes and sewerage lines.
Ground water level
Officials of the Lahore Development Authority said the SPU and the WASA were also working on a proposal to raise ground water level.
The plan involved digging wells connected to storm water drains.
These wells would likely be dug in areas of city where there are natural depressions.
They said a public awareness campaign regarding the importance of water conservation would also been launched.
They said they would propose making construction of a water tank mandatory before approving any housing plan
Published in The Express Tribune, January 25th, 2014.