Punjab government launches plan to save water reservoirs from pollution

Water quality-related index will also be released regularly, in-charge Noor Ahmed

Lahore: Punjab government has started measures to save province's rivers, canals and natural water reservoirs from pollution after air pollution.

15 automatic monitoring stations have been established to monitor water quality at various rivers, barrages of province, where 14 different standards of water are being analyzed after every hour. Through this system, preparation is also being done to issue Water Quality Index along with continuous monitoring of water quality.

In-charge of Environmental Monitoring Center established under Environment Protection Department Punjab, Noor Ahmed, while talking to Express News said that just like Air Quality Index is issued to measure air pollution, similarly index related to water quality will also be issued regularly. This measure will help in examining pollution level in rivers and its causes on scientific basis.

He said that monitoring stations have been established near confluence of Ravi Syphon and Hudiara Drain on River Ravi, while water quality is being monitored at various places including Head Marala, Khanki and Head Trimmu on River Chenab and Kalabagh on River Indus.

With help of data obtained from stations installed at various places of rivers, changes in pollution level will be reviewed.

Scientific research is also underway to determine sources of pollution in Hudiara Drain. For this purpose, water samples have been obtained from 56 places of drain, with distance of about one kilometer kept between them.

After analyzing samples during four seasons, it will be determined how much portion of pollution is related to local industries and urban discharge and how much polluted water is coming from across border.

He said that according to initial observations, pollution level has been found higher in lower part of drain near Lahore compared to places near border, however exact proportion of pollution coming from different sources will be determined after complete research.

According to report, pollution level in River Ravi from district Narowal and Zafarwal to Lahore Syphon remains relatively low, however situation changes after entering Lahore.

Water quality is being affected due to untreated urban sewage and polluted water from about 10 to 11 places of city entering river. To control this situation, it is necessary to clean urban sewage and industrial waste before discharging into rivers.

Special Water Squads are also active for action against industries violating environmental laws in province. Through these squads, monitoring of discharge of industrial waste and action against institutions spreading pollution is being done.

On other hand, work is underway to install eight to nine Waste Water Treatment Plants to clean dirty water in Lahore, while implementation on one or two projects has also started.

It is expected that on basis of data obtained from this system of environmental monitoring, identification of sources of water pollution and help in future policy making will be obtained.

However, to save rivers from pollution, along with monitoring, timely completion of sewage treatment plants and effective implementation of environmental laws will also be necessary.