The developed countries in the world are known to be developed because they made those things that gave a boost to their economies and eased their nation by making such projects that are good in the long run. Japan and the USA are on the list of those developed countries that have an underground water reservoir.
Water is an extremely useful source for humans. In many countries, people die due to the lack of clean drinking water. Here in Pakistan, we face these problems. The majority of our river water is wasted. It is due to the lack of ability to store water. Every year, Pakistan faces destruction due to floods and rains. This harm can be controlled by proper management.
Talking about the Punjab’s Urban city Lahore, it is at a high risk. The risk of having no water in the near future. Lahore has heavy rainfalls every year that causes destruction everywhere. Clean water to drink is not easily available in every area. Now, to solve this issue and to save Lahore and Lahoris from facing these dangers, Govt has come up with a plan that is in practice in many developed countries.
Monsoon Underground Water Reservoir
A new project, titled “Monsoon Underground Water Reservoir” is developed. It is the Lahore’s first underground water reservoir system. It will store water from rain and reduce the danger of flooding in Lahore.
The vision of Khan – Homeless people getting shelter in Lahore
This project is modeled after the reservoir models in Japan and the USA. It offers to save huge amounts of water. The saved water can be later used for different purposes. It prevents flood too. This kind of water reservoirs is very valuable for urban areas.
Capacity & Cost of Underground Water Reservoir
The Monsoon Underground Water Reservoir has the capacity to store up to 1.5 million gallons of water. It costs 149 million rupees and is built at Lahore Lawrence Garden.
WASA is a government body that is incharge of the planning and maintenance of water supply and sewerage of the city. WASA spotted 22 places that get in trouble whenever the monsoon season comes.
Those areas get flooded after the rain. The residents have to migrate somewhere or face the serious destruction of their households. The rainwater gets mixed with the sewerage water. It spreads dirtiness with stench.
To solve this issue, WASA chose one of those 22 identified areas to build this project. WASA selected Lawrence Garden where the Lahore’s first underground water reservoir is constructed.
The other areas that were pointed were the Mall Road, BISE Lahore building, Lahore Zoo, Shahra e Fatima Jinnah and some other areas.
The Managing Director of WASA, Syed Shahid Aziz said,
“In the first phase, a 600 feet drain has been laid down connecting Lawrence Garden to the underground water reservoir. But if the tank overflows in case it rains the whole day, there is a second outer surface reservoir to contain over 0.2 million gallons of water and even if the second reservoir fills up, there is another system to channel the water.”
According to the MD of WASA, he said that the WASA desires to build this system in the whole metropolitan where it is needed but this is conditional to the consent of funds by the Government.
Use of Saved Water
The water stored in the underground water reservoir will be chiefly used for irrigation purposes. It will also be used to irrigate the gardens and parks of the Lahore city. This project will also help to increase the levels of groundwater that are decreasing at a very dangerous rate.
Lahoris will have a relief of sigh. Moreover, their households will not get harm in the rainfalls. Moreover, they will not have to smell the stench that gives psychological problems to them.
Recent studies tell that Pakistan is one of those countries that are considered to water-stressed in the world and the shortage of water is quickly increasing. In 1947, the per capita availability of water was 5,650 cubic meters which has now dropped to 1,000 cubic meters which is a fearful situation.
Bottom Line
If today, the Government doesn’t take initiatives like the Lahore’s Monsoon Underground Water Reservoir then the situation of Lahore is going to be worse. Then, Pakistan is not going to be much different from the countries of Africa that starve for water. Hence, the government should quickly start these projects at other identified places too.
