BAHAWALPUR: The Punjab government in Pakistan has allocated over PKR 12 billion for the rehabilitation of five underground water lines in Cholistan.
The restoration work, carried out in phases over three years, aims to restore the water lines, which were originally installed in 2002-03 to provide drinking water to the residents and animals of the desert area, but have since been in need of maintenance.
According to Cholistan Development Authority, Tariq Bokhari, an amount of PKR 6 billion from the total allocated funds has been added to the Annual Development Plan for 2022-23 and will be released soon.
Besides, water lines for rehabilitation include ‘Khutri Dahar to Tufana, Kudwala to Banna post, 111/DNB village to Nawan kote, 108/DB village to Bijnot in Bahawalpur district, Sourian in Rahim Yar Khan district and Mirgarh to Choori in Fortabbas tehsil . of Bahawalnagar District’.
Restoring the water lines is expected to benefit 66,000 acres, about half of the entire desert area.
In addition, CDA Executive Engineer Asig Langah shared that the government has also allocated PKR 136.507 million for the purchase of four large tankers to deliver drinking water to areas affected by shortages during the summer season.