Jar's: Jar is the poison
After over one and a half years of legal disputes, proceedings and the examination of several government agencies, the long -awaited project of 3.845 billion rupees and wastewater management in Jaranwala is finally underway.
The project, which is considered a significant step to achieve goals of the climate resilience and sustainable development goals (SDGS), which were determined by the United Nations and the Pakistan government for 2030, is executed by the Municipal Committee (MC) Jaranwala.
According to official sources, the comprehensive project includes rehabilitation of municipal services, the construction of roads and Chowks, the upgrading of drainage systems, the laying of a new sewer relief network and setting up a sewage treatment plant.
Additional components include the provision of liquid waste machines, devices for fixed waste, model road development, rehabilitation of parks and green belts as well as the installation of a disaster management system.
An MC officer who spoke on the condition of anonymity revealed that the project was initially exposed to severe controversy.
Disputes occurred during the tender procedure when technical and financial offers were invited at the same time.
Only one company was technically qualified, which made other bidders used to take the decision in court, the Lahore High Court and various state institutions, including the anti-corruption establishment, the Punjab Municipal Development Fund (PMDFC), the Punjab Procurement Regulatory Authory (PPRA) Deputy Commissioner (DC) Faisalabad.
Despite the recommendation of PMDFC, all bidders and the intervention of the World Bank to be included by their Task team manager, MC Jarananwala continued in March and April 2024 with the opening of the offers.
The PPRA called for procurement records that were not provided, which led to the cancellation of the tender procedure.
The Lahore's Supreme Court also issued a stay on the procedure during this time.
Last year, similar concerns from the World Bank initiated the Department of Local government of Punjab, two important officials of MC Jarananwala, including the Chief Officer, due to procurement uncertainties.
These setbacks delayed the project and withdrawn over 1.5 million inhabitants of essential water and sanitary facilities.
However, the deputy commissioner and administrator MC Jaranwala, ranked Goraya, confirmed that the project is now progressing smoothly. “Civil work has been resumed. Key components such as the parking sheds, several streets and Chowks, the supply of fluid waste and the design of sewage pipes have already been completed in record time,” he said.
Goraya also announced that five new PC-1S were made for complementary projects-and model roads, street rehabilitation and solarization of disposal stations.