Sardar Ejaz Jaffar stresses need to take steps on war footing ground to tackle issue of clean drinking water in Quetta city

Independent Report

QUETTA: The caretaker Provincial Minister for Public Health Engineering PHE) and Population Welfare, Sardar Ejaz Ahmed Khan Jaffar visited the water treatment plant established on Sabzal road and booster pump at Brewery road Quetta on Monday.
Also present on the occasion were Managing Director WASA, Hamid Latif Rana, Executive Engineer, Abdul Qadir, Executive Engineer Zaheer Sattar and SDO, Fareed Ahmed.
Speaking on the occasion, Sardar Ejaz Jaffar noted with concern that the issue of clean drinking water for the citizens of Quetta has turned serious situation, and as such there is a dire need to take steps on war footing grounds to tackle the serious issue.
He directed to the MD WASA to prepare and submit a map of Quetta city clearly showing the areas where water is supplied and those with no supply of water.
He also directed to expedite pace of work on the newly installed tube wells further completing the projects within one and half month so as to resolve the issue of water in the city.
The caretaker Minister on the occasion expressed concern over closure of the important project of water treatment plant asking why such an important nature project remained pending for last several years.
However, now it is an encouraging that around 1.8 million gallons of water is being provided for cultivation to Sabzal road, Samungli road and Nau Hisar after treatment of the sewerage water.
He stressed to increase the capacity of water treatment plant further from existing 1.8 million gallons so that the service stations may also be provided the same treated water.
The Minister also stressed the need to increase awareness among the masses about importance of clean drinking water.
He said that it has come to his knowledge that some officers of WASA are selling the water in connivance with the tanker mafia, which is a great offence.
He warned them to mend their way otherwise stern action would be taken against them.
Sardar Ejaz Jaffar was also concerned about the lack of better strategy for conservation of the rainwater.
Earlier, the MD WASA briefed the caretaker Minister about functioning of the water treatment plant.
He also informed that currently 2.6 million people of Quetta need around 5 crore gallons of water, but we are supplying 3.5 crore gallons of water. In order to meet the daily water requirement, we are installing 19 tube wells in the hard rock near Akhtarabad, Western bypass while 5 more tube wells are being installed in Marriabad and Pashtoonabad areas, adding he informed.