Wasa to monitor rainwater live

LAHORE: Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) is going to install live tracking system at all important ponding points in the provincial metropolis that will automatically report accumulation of rainwater with depth measurements, which will prompt appropriate action for effective troubleshooting especially in monsoon.

Monsoon or not, whenever it rains heavily in Lahore, there are various parts of Lahore, where water accumulates and forms ponds sometimes up to four feet. These points, where water gets stuck are called ponding areas or points, said a senior Wasa official. He said that underpasses along Lahore Canal, areas along route of under-construction Orange Line Metro Train, Main Boulevard Gulberg, Salamatpura, Laxmi Chowk, Mughalpura, Kashmir Road, Nabha Road, Nawab Town, Ali Town, Chowk Nakhuda, GPO Chowk, Mozang, Nicholson Road, Qurtaba Chowk, Revaz Garden, Westwood Colony, Judicial Colony, Aziz Road, Samanabad, Sir Agha Khan Road, Main Boulevard Iqbal Town, portions of Johar Town, Wahdat Colony, Harbanspura, Regal Chowk, Majeed Nizami Road, Begum Road, Waris Road, Queen's Road, Empress Road, Karim Park, Mohni Road, Band Road, Islampura, Karishn Nagar, Old Anarkali, Jain Madir and Bilal Ganj are the areas submerged by rainwater due to the way the elevation construct of the city has evolved. This, while makes life of citizens difficult and commuting a challenge, but the stagnant water also poses health hazards as it becomes host to insect borne diseases. While the trouble-shooting pace and storm-water management of Wasa has improved over time, the current management has a resolve of containing the issue through a proactive approach.

"Currently, whenever it rains, Wasa, LDA staff check the water depth manually without usage of any IT equipment. Once the water level is reported, further action is taken in that area to drain the water. This is usually done with the help of dewatering sets. Wasa has now decided to use technological interventions to eliminate the problem before it swells in volume", said Wasa MD Zahid Aziz, while talking with The News.

With the help of Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) Wasa will now be able to monitor these points live and in case of any ponding, the matter would be resolved, he added. The proposed solution by PITB is to automate the measurement of these ponding areas, with also live tracking.

Whenever rain starts or water through other sources starts accumulating on roads, live reporting of the water depth will be made. This will not only help the management to take prompt action on these ponding points, but also optimally utilise their human resources, which were stationed in these area before, just to report the water level.

"It sounds too good to be true that our most grave complaint regarding municipal services in this area would be redressed automatically even without registering a formal complaint. We cannot raise the locality to the level of the surrounding areas so ponding is inevitable, but if the agency can drain that water before it starts breeding health and commuting problems, it would be really special", said Faizan, a resident of Karim Park.

City and Regional Planning professionals were of the view that there is a need for a thorough reconsideration of the entire provincial metropolis's sewerage system and how it is operated. They called for a major overhaul and reinstallation of broader gauge pipes to cater to a swelling population due to urbanisation.

Zahid Aziz, while responding to this criticism, said that Wasa has already almost completed 15 percent replacement of the old sewerage system and the project scope has expanded which would incorporate all areas that need sewerage infrastructure upgrade.

Chairman PITB Umar Saif while talking to The News said that the centralised monitoring and control IT architecture is the futuristic approach to municipal services across the world. We are living in the age where sensory technology and highly sophisticated algorithms virtually manage on their own. This planned initiative is a first step in this direction and the way Zahid Aziz has envisioned this government public service delivery institution, it has a progressive future.

"We welcome next year with open arms where key operations of Wasa would be controlled from centralised command and control centre; this includes automation of rain gauges, disposal units, tube-wells and pumping stations," he concluded.