Rs3.8b wastewater project back on track
Waste flows into a pond from several pipelines. Photo: Express
After over a year and a half of legal battles, procedural delays, and scrutiny by multiple government bodies, the long-awaited Rs3.845 billion sewerage and wastewater management project in Jaranwala is finally under way.
The project, regarded as a significant step toward meeting climate resilience goals and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the UN and the Government of Pakistan for 2030, is being executed by the Municipal Committee (MC) Jaranwala.
According to official sources, the comprehensive project includes the rehabilitation of municipal services, construction of roads and chowks, upgrading drainage systems, laying of a new sewerage network, and the establishment of a wastewater treatment plant.
Additional components include the provision of liquid waste machinery, solid waste management equipment, model street development, rehabilitation of parks and green belts, and the installation of a disaster management system.
An MC officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that the project had initially faced severe controversy.
Disputes arose during the tendering process when technical and financial bids were invited simultaneously.
Only one firm was declared technically qualified, leading other bidders to challenge the decision in lower courts, the Lahore High Court, and various government institutions including the Anti-Corruption Establishment, Punjab Municipal Development Fund Company (PMDFC), Punjab Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA), and the Deputy Commissioner (DC) Faisalabad.
Despite PMDFC's recommendation to include all bidders and the World Bank's intervention through its task team leader, MC Jaranwala proceeded with opening the bids in March and April 2024.
The PPRA called for procurement records, which were not provided, resulting in the cancellation of the tendering process.
The Lahore High Court also issued a stay on the proceedings during this period.
Last year, similar concerns from the World Bank led the Punjab Local Government Department to suspend two key officials of MC Jaranwala, including the chief officer, over procurement irregularities.
These setbacks delayed the project and deprived over 1.5 million residents of essential water and sanitation facilities.
However, Assistant Commissioner and Administrator MC Jaranwala, Rangzeb Goraya, confirmed that the project is now progressing smoothly. "Civil works have resumed. Key components like the parking shed, several roads and chowks, liquid waste machinery supply, and desilting of sewerage lines have already been completed in record time," he stated.
Goraya also disclosed that five new PC-1s for complementary projects — including model streets, road rehabilitation, and solarization of disposal stations — have been finalized.
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