F.P. Report
PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan has directed the Public Health Engineering (PHE) department to initiate action against all illegal and unregistered water connections throughout the province and ensure legalization and registration of all water connection within the next two months.
The Chief Minister has also directed the PHE department to undertake measures in those areas of District Karak where the water has been contaminated due to radioactive ores which is causing serious health hazards for the local population. He stated that complete study into the issue should be conducted and all relevant stakeholders should be consulted to come up with a solution.
He stated that developmental schemes for water supply will be included in the next ADP for those areas currently facing water shortages so that provision of clean drinking water may be ensured in all areas of the province.
While chairing a review meeting of public Health engineering department, Special Assistant to CM on PHE Riaz Khan informed the Chief Minister that 72589 illegal water connections have been identified out of which 4930 has been regularized whereas a target of Rs.218 million, under water charges recovery, will be achieved during the current financial year. He further told that the draft of provincial sanitation policy has been prepared which will be presented in the cabinet soon. Similarly, Provincial Drinking Water Policy 2015 is currently being updated whereas the work on Integrated Water Resources Management Strategy is also underway. He further informed the Chief Minister that the Public Health Engineering department is working for introducing a new system under which replacement of damaged pumping machinery in water supply schemes will be replace within 24 hours time. The service will be part of all future contracts. Similarly, water connection will be included in the PC-1 so as to avoid haphazard water connections by consumers.
The meeting was also informed about the major achievements of the public health engineering department during the previous one year which include completion of 268 water supply schemes, completion of 243 sanitation schemes, rehabilitation of 67 water supply schemes, solarization of 14 existing tube wells, completion of 9 new solar based tube wells, completion of sewerage schemes in D.I.Khan City Phase-I and initiation of work on sewerage scheme D.I.Khan city Phase-II, Utla Dam for Gadoon area and water supply scheme for Rehmanabad and Shakardara in District Kohat. With regards to budget utilization, the Chief Minister was informed that 60% of the released budget has been utilized whereas in the Newly Merged Tribal Districts (NMDs), a total of Rs.191.73 million has been spent in the Annual Development Program so far. Furthermore, Rs.610 million has been released for three approved schemes under the Accelerated Implementation Plan(AIP) for the Newly Merged Tribal Districts. The meeting was informed that budget utilization has increased since the past two months due to streamlining of codal formalities.
In order to ensure transparency and accountability, the meeting was informed that E-bidding and E-billing are currently being practice whereas consultant has been hired for Technically Complex Projects based on KPPRA and PEC guidelines. Similarly, progress review is undertaken every month whereas 148 staff has been trained on solar technology. Similarly, 35 Draftsman and 60 Junior Clerks have been imparted with computer skills. Similar trainings are also being provided to Engineers and PHED staff in their relevant fields.
With the regards to the solarization drive, the Chief Minister was informed that solarization of 600 water supply schemes has been completed so far which is not only saving Rs.600 million every year but is also saving 18 MW electricity to the national grid. The Chief Minister was informed that various steps have been taken for water quality improvement including “Zero Leakage Regime” under which 3667 leakges have been repaired so far. Similarly, inspection of all water supply schemes has been initiated, 2156 storage reservoirs have been cleaned and disinfected, 8 water quality testing labs have been established, 8 mobile water quality testing labs are near completion whereas water quality profile for five Districts has also been completed. Regular sample from source as well as at consumer end is being tested and rectification measures are adopted immediately.
The meeting was also informed that PHE department is undertaking a pilot project to raise the ground water level through artificial recharge for which a think tank committee has been constituted to implement the initiative. Similarly, a pilot project of waste water treatment in rural areas has also been initiated for which the design and PC-1 is currently being prepared. If successful, the project will be replicated and scaled up resulting into improved biodiversity, river quality and healthy environment. The aim is to achieve the objective of clean and green Pakistan. Furthermore, community led sanitation pilot project has been implemented in Charsadda and Mansehra with aim to declare 32 villages Open Defecation Free (ODF) by organizing and motivating communities through behavior change communication. 30 villages have been declared as ODF and 18492 persons have benefitted so far.
Mahmood Khan reiterated that every effort should be taken for promoting a healthy environment and to address the basic needs of citizens.
