LAHORE: Experts have identified 39 points in the city for accumulation of rainwater during rainy season and recommended launch of a pilot project to construct wells at two of these places, Lakshmi Chowk and Qadhafi Stadium, to raise the underground water level as well as early disposal of the rainwater.

The project worth Rs21 million is being sent to the Punjab government by the authorities concerned soon for approval, Dawn learnt reliably on Sunday.

According to a report-cum-proposal prepared by the Lahore Development Authority and shared with the LDA and Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) officials, the 39 points identified in areas of the Data Ganj Bakhsh, Ravi, Iqbal and Shalimar towns include Lakshmi Chowk, Sanda Road, Cooper Road, Fazlia Colony, Malik Park (Bilal Ganj), Lytton Road, Plaza Cinema, BISE Office, Lawrence Road, Nabha Road, Empress Road, L-Block (Gulberg), Bashir Sons (The Mall), Qurtaba Chowk, Mini Market (Gulberg), Qadhafi Stadium, Muhammad Nagar (Garhi Shahu), Railway Station, Green Verge (Main Boulevard, Gulberg), Shah Jamal, Abid Market (near Shezan Bakery), Timber Market, Do Moria Pul, Bhati Chowk, Main Bazaar (Begum Kot), Sabzazar (H-Block), Yateemkhana Chowk, Doctors Hospital (Johar Town), Sultan Mahmood Road (Ichhra), Shabab Chowk and Doongi Ground (Samanabad), Mustafa Town and Tajpura (E-Block).

“In many parts of the world, rainwater is used to deal with water scarcity and urban flooding. It is an important source of recharging the groundwater and is used for many purposes, including irrigation and farming.

Whereas the situation in Pakistan is absolutely different as here during rainy season the water sweeps over roofs, streets and parking lots and makes its way towards drains.

In this way, we allow huge amounts of freshwater to run-off our roads and pavements into the drains where it mixes with the sewage and heads straight towards the rivers,” the report reads.

“At many places, rainwater gathers as ponds and puddles and becomes a breeding ground for insects and vectors resulting in outbreak of diseases.

Massive traffic jams are observed due to urban flooding and chaos on the roads brings misery to the residents. Municipal authorities have to put their efforts to pump out the water and to clean up the roads,” it states.

The objectives of the project, according to the report are to use rainwater for recharging the groundwater as well as using it for irrigation and farming and avoid rainwater discharge in municipal sewers.

The report proposes launching of the project (construction of water recharge wells) at Lakshmi Chowk and Qadhafi Stadium under a design approach that works on principle that surface water run-off flows into a tank that is seven feet deep and 10 feet wide.

The tank will be equipped with a coarse filter mechanism to avoid debris, clay or any other choking material. At the bottom of the tank, there will be an outlet pipe opening into groundwater that will be five feet below.

The water will get drained into groundwater due to head difference. In this way, inflow rate will approximately be equal to recharge rate.

According to officials, if the pilot project proves successful, it is likely to be expanded to the remaining 37 points in the city where rainwater accumulates.

Talking to Dawn, an official says: “The underground water level is decreasing gradually, posing threats of water shortage in the city. So keeping in view the situation, the pilot project is being proposed to be launched to avoid such a situation in the future.”