River water should be drinkable water!

Our Proposal To Save RAVI

Report Submitted to River Ravi Commission Also known as Green Bench W.P. Number 9137/2012

Prepared By Hafiz Masood

Publishing Date 1/22/2013

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Photographs used in this report were taken by Hafiz Masood and His team members. This report is produced for River Ravi Commission also known as Green Bench W.P. Number 9137/2012, and can be used as a reference giving credits to the authors. This report is a volunteer and honest effort for the betterment of our society and environment. Copyright: 2013 Hafiz Masood. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this publication for educational and other non-commercial purposes is authorized without prior permission from the copyright holder, provided the source is fully acknowledged. No part of this publication may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means photographic, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or information storage and retrieval systems without permission of the author. Available from: House Number 4, Street Number 2, Kakay Zai, Awan Town, Multan Road, Lahore, Pakistan. Or e-mail hafiz.masood786@yahoo.com Report Prepared By: Hafiz Masood (03454545815), with consultation of the locals of NA 121 LHR 4.

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Table of Contents
Title
What is happening right now? Proposed solutions summary Reverse osmosis process and some important details Bioremediation Plant is not a sustainable option because of the following reasons i. Cost is too high ii. Dont solve the whole problem iii. Corruption iv. This pilot project is nothing new v. WASA doesnt have money vi. Malpractices involved in land acquisition processes vii. What if India opens Water during Monsoon? viii. International Loans ix. Land will convert into waste land x. Mistrust over the solution of the problem

Page #
5 5 6 7
7 9 9 10 10 11 11 12 12 12

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xi. Grave concern in the public xii. No More Cheap Vegetables for Commuters xiii. Manhood Booty Plant a short comparison xiv. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) We are polluting water at different levels; why cant we clean it at every level?
i.

13 13 13 13

14
14

Water Pollution at House Hold level and how to overcome it?

ii. Solutions for Small Manufacturers iii. Large Industries iv. Large Drainages or Nalas v. Solution of Direct Pollutants

15 16 17 17

Ravi Protection Force (RPF)

i. Purposes and Works of the Force

21
21

Restoration of Ravi as a Tourist Resort i. Venice Model

22 22 24

Fluoride and Aftereffects A Short Note

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hat is happening Right Now?

Household water users consume (clean drinkable) water and send it to their houses sanitation line. Small industrial Units are also dumping their industrial waste into sanitation lines. These small sanitation lines fall into large sanitation lines of their Mohalla or Town. These large sanitation lines carry all waste and goes to Drain ( .)At some places people send different kind of solid waste into Drain ( )as well. These Drains then carry sewage and falls to River Ravi. The same dirty water polluted by the commuters of Lahore is used to irrigate the agricultural land. Vegetables grown on these agricultural lands with the help of dirty water then presented to the people of Lahore to eat. There is currently only one cleaning facility at Mehmood Booty installed. WASA is providing clean drinking water to the commuters with the help of Tube wells and they have assumed that the water coming from the well is clean but as we have polluted our soil with different pollutants - cemented our surroundings and sanitation paths - water which reaches the underground water reservoir carries pollutants along with it and it needs cleaning on pumping.

To save River Ravi we need to send relatively clean water to the river and let the Mother Nature do the rest. We have to make drinking water standers according to International Health Standards. For River Ravi water should be drinkable water. We should go for micro level water cleaning facilities instead of investing in large plant. Increase level of monitoring and impose heavy fines on those polluting water. Ravi Protection Force (RPF) should be made to protect the River Ravi. Ravi should be regarded as National Heritage ( .) Ravi should be restored as a tourist resort. If Venus can thrive over water and water alone why cant Ravi earn the Government large sums of money in shape of tourist activity as well as economic activity?

roposed Solutions Summary:

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everse Osmosis Process and Some Important Details:

RO (Reverse Osmosis) unit will costs only 0.5 million PKR and have capability of converting dirty water into clean drinkable water according to international standards. Many Pakistani firms are making these plants. The process labeled diagram is as follow.

Technical Process Details: Raw water goes to raw water tank from there it
goes to raw water pump. This pump send raw water to sand filter then to carbon filter and then to softener (optional).At this point water is free from large sewage particles but not clean. To make water drinkable it moves to security filter where high pressure pump sends it to reverse osmosis system. Reverse osmosis Government of Pakistan is Building tubes make water clean at drinkable level. around 300 Reverse Osmosis Plants Fromm here water moves to pure water in Various Parts of Sindh. Asia's tank. In my opinion the water is clean now biggest RO plant is Under and should go to water supply point. I Construction in Nawabshah which personally have reservations over UV will provide 8 million Gallons of sterilizer (ozone generator) but as water per day. scientists use this as part of the process I cant say much about it. Water moves to precision filter and from here it moves to water supply points.

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This is a worth noting fact that Reverse Osmosis Process is currently worlds most used method for cleaning water. The most beneficial thing in this method is that this method can be expanded to macro level and can be shrunk to micro level as well. This is also worth noting that in many parts of the world where water is a very expensive commodity people use RO system alone (from the above mentioned diagram) to convert used water into clean water by only enlarging the length of the tubes and increasing their number. Gulf Countries are very good example of above mentioned fact. Further data can easily be extracted from internet if anyone is interested to know more about the process and the plant.

ioremediation Plant is not a sustainable option because of the following reasons:

1- Cost is too high. In 45 Million PKR (expected initial cost for the plant) 99 small convertible RO (Reverse Osmosis) plants can be installed which deal with the problem in far more effective manner than one single plant. Bioremediation Plant will cost approximately 45 million PKR which will produce 10 cusecs or 0.2831 m3/s . But we can get the same amount of clean water from Reverse Osmosis Plant in around 11 million alone which will be 4 times Minimum 2 plants having cheaper than the proposed plant value. the same capacity and If we calculate corruption money (Sorry output can be built in the Honorable Court) in shape of Kickbacks same expense of one (30% of the original cost of the project) Bioremediation Plant. and other funny businesses which are now part of our system, the amount will never ever be more than 20 million by any means. If we can get the same results by paying half the price why we are going for

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this kind of luxury? Instead of going for the Luxury like Bioremediation Plant shouldnt we go for more RO Plants so that more water can be treated at low cost? 0.75 m3/h will cost 5000 USD (international best best quality equipment price Price can be less if we go for somewhat low quality or used equipment) or .5 million PKR. To clean 65.71 m3/s we will require 5256 small plants total cost will be 2,628,400,000/- (As large plant costs less. these estimates may vary but only in fraction) In Bio Remediation Plant by spending 45,000,000/- we will get 10 cusecs. 1 cusecs = 0.02831 m3/s 10 cusecs = 0.2831 m3/s = 45 million but the same amount of clean water can be obtained by 11 million PKR worth of RO Plant. It is also worth noting here that Bioremediation plant will take more space than RO plant. This will not only solve the land issues involved in the region but also will help use valuable land to other productive purposes.

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2- Dont solve the whole problem. It only deals with the part of the problem. It is practically impossible to clean the whole river water.

Proposed Site near River Ravi, Officials call this Natural Wet Land but you let this area 2 months without water, this land will not remain a wet land.

3- Corruption. In 2011 WASA paid 50 Million PKR to a French firm as mobilization advance. That French firm has never started work to date and is not interested in starting the work. In fact this amount from the public pocket has been vanished already. All details are

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under the curtain right now but if Honorable Court demands the record, MD WASA and other stake holders are aware of the situation, and will be bound to provide all details to the Honorable court. Here this question should also be asked that when there are rules to take guarantees from foreign Firms for the security, why they didnt give heed to the rules and regulations. If Honorable court finds misconduct, this is publics prior demand to make an example out of culprits.

4- This pilot project is nothing new. On 20 August, 2010 Yasir

th

Habib reported in Express Tribune The Planning and Development (P&D) Department has approved a PC-1 (project digest) for the plant at Babu Sabu, expected to cost Rs83 million. WASA with the help of LDA wants LDA (WASA) has acquired 7,300 to buy land at 9400 PKR per Kanal kanals for the Babu Sabu plant, whereas the current Market value is Much Much higher than this which will be able to treat 462 amount. Currently 80 cases are cusecs of sewage. There is pending in different courts fraudulent activity happened in belonging to same Area! that project which needs to be properly investigated before inaugurating to any new project.

5- WASA doesnt have money to pay their electricity bills but they are destined to build new plants and facilities. For this particular Bioremediation Plant they went to LCCI (Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industries) to invest in the project but as fact of the matter Chairman LCCI refused to invest in the project.

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6- If we look deep into malpractices involved in land acquisition processes we will come to know that there are more than 70 to 80 pending cases relating to land acquisition in the proposed area of project. In most of the cases WASA is paying a lot less than market value and people are unwilling to accept the price (9400 RS per Kanal) they are offered. 7- What if India opens Water during Monsoon? Plant will definitely wash away with flood water. This is a known fact that the area French are Party to waste water where Plant is proposed and where management projects and their WASA is acquiring land with consulate is ensuring that Projects go to their Organizations. As French collaboration of LDA remain on the tip have a very long established history of the disaster in case of flood. This is of Corruption, We Pakistanis will not a healthy futuristic investment remain unaware of the fact that the amount they are paying in shape of because once we invested in this area; investment is not benefiting us by this area will become our soft point. any means. One French firm gets We cannot trust India on this matter. paid for Environmental study, second gets paid for Building the plant, third I have always become concerned gets paid for the maintenance of it whenever I hear news of building a and the fourth gets paid for the new project along with River Ravi Financial assistance. inside flood plain because whenever India opened its flood gate we have to face grave consequences. Shouldnt we invest in more secure and sustainable areas rather than going for risky investments? Though people are building their houses in River Ravi adjoining tributaries which are regarded as flood plains in the past but those are peoples investments and they themselves are

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responsible for their losses. When it comes to the Government investments, the taxpayers hard earned money should not be used in risky investments. 8- International Loans which have been taken from World Bank, Asian Development Bank and Japanese Financial Institutions which cannot be given back by WASA. Now if WASA go for building this Plant it will need money. Large chunk of Money will definitely increase utility bills for the consumers because there is no other income of WASA. 9- Land that is acquired by WASA no doubt worth billions of PKR which will convert into waste land if actions such as mentioned above persisted too long. As, every problem has a solution we should go for long term sustainable solution, rather than wasting our energies and money into bureaucratic lethargy.

10On August 05, 2012, In a meeting presided by Chief Minister Punjab Mian Shehbaz Shareef, DDO Environment Younas Zahid informed the meeting that there were around 203 units, which were operational in the Sunder Industrial Estate (SIE) out of which only one unit installed its treatment plant. In the same Meeting, Mian Ijaz Rasool, Secretary Finance SIE, told the meeting participants that the Punjab government had promised to provide specific funds for installation of the combined treatment plant for SIE and its PC-1 was also approved with the grant of 298 million rupees but later it was postponed. This shows the mistrust over

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the solution of the problem because after spending such huge amount the problem remains intact. 11There is grave concern in the public that why WASA want to build this plant instead of Environment Protection Authority?

12-

Cheap Vegetables come from the bank of Ravi and the acquirable land. Now WASA is converting this land into nonThere is a very big difference cultivatable land.

13The Mehmood Booti Plant costed app. 100 million Euros and the French government has sanctioned a soft loan of 70 million Euros at a 1.6 per cent interest rate. The Punjab government provided the rest. The loan re-payment was scheduled in 40 installments over a period of 20 years.

between Japanese and French and that is Kickbacks. If you provide a Nation to French and Japanese: French will be the first one to offer Bribe.

14The Express Tribune reported on January 28th, 2011 that The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is already conducting studies for the installation of another plant near Babu Sabu. Japanese engineers are conducting the surveys and WASA is hoping that the JICA will also provide funds for the project. WASA is negotiating with the JICA to sanction a loan for this project. But why Japanese went empty-handed and did not invested in Pakistan?

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e are polluting water at different levels; why cant we clean it at every level?

At first, it seems to us that river water is polluted by pollutants directly submitted to it by industries or other sources but if we look deep into the problem we come to know that there are many levels of polluters contributing to the pollution of the River water. a- Water Pollution at House Hold level and how to overcome it? WASA is supplying same water for drinking as well as for use. Infect we, people, are consuming drinkable water for cleaning and washing. This is simply waste of clean water on one hand and on the other we convert drinkable water into dirty water. First of all we all should realize the fact that it is very hard to get clean and healthy water for our children. We have to understand that underground water reservoir is for the future generations. This is a common observation of the Lahore residents that the underground water reservoir which was at 80 -100 feet deep and was clean and healthy is now fallen to 300 350 feet and in some parts of Lahore even that deep water cant be regarded as clean because the color of the water changes after 30 minutes of exposure to the oxygen or sunlight. This is because we are not giving Mother Nature appropriate time to work out things for us. We have to make commitment to ourselves and decide what is best for our future generations. A small water treatment plant can cost as much as .5 million PKR which can clean 18000 liters of water per day very easily. This amount of water is very much for a whole street of inhabitants of 900 People very easily. Government should become partner with the locals to water and

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waste management. To clean whole Lahore water it is impossible for Government alone to clean it and make it reusable. There should be separate lines for drinkable and useable water. Drinkable water should not be used for cleaning and sanitation purposes. b- Solutions for Small Manufacturers Small manufacturers use water in their manufacturing processes. The water provided to them is clean drinkable water. They unfortunately convert that drinkable water into dirty water and then send it to sanitation line. According to Asian Development Bank there are 9000 industrial units working in Lahore. 3000 industrial units are working in Shahdera and surrounding areas. More than 300 industrial units are working in Sunder Industrial Estate alone. If we consider 12000 industrial units working in Lahore and dumping their waste in River Ravi without any kind of cleaning every passing minute; what kind of situation we are dealing with? We cannot clean everyones waste instantaneously. First of all we have to place heavy fines for those who are polluting the water. From the fine money WASA will generate revenue to build latest facilities and pay its electricity bills. Secondly, we have to find out the real culprits whom are polluting the water. For this purpose we need micro level scrutiny system so that we remain aware of the fact that who is dumping what in the water stream. To solve a problem it is necessary for the Government to know above mentioned thing at first.

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Lastly, Government should chalk out a waste line for small manufacturers which should not be crossed by any means. In case they cross that line, they should be fined or their licenses be canceled. If we want to give our generations a healthy and clean future this must be done in its letter and spirit. c- Large Industries: There are no such industries which have been fined or faced cancelation of licenses due dumping their waste into River Ravi. Till the day our officials keep on using delaying tactics to act or remain involved in funny practices, we will never be able to solve the problem properly and indefinitely. For Large industries, water treatment Plant is a must thing but big industrialists remain reluctant to spend money over water treatment plant as they think that it is useless to spend their money over it. It is not impossible for Government to make them install in-house water treatment facilities. d- Large Drainages or Nalas As stated above, large drainages are one very large part of problem. The solution to it is very simple. If we dont want to or unable to go for RO plant for cleaning our 15 large drainage facilities what we can do very easily are two things: 1- Clean our drainage properly and efficiently.

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2- Make a 12 to 14 Km path for these drainages from pumping stations to river bed. This is a very old practice used by Arabs in Muslim world. When there was no other way to clean water they were able to clean it by creating a 12km to 14km path on which water travel and when it reaches its destination it become clean and natural. All impurities go away automatically. This method has been mentioned by many Muslim scholars in their research papers but currently there is no research or finding to prove this method according to modern standards. Modern Research only proves that after 12Km water regain its genuine position. Theoretically, if we make water travel on rough terrain for 12 Km we might be able to get clean water. As I have mentioned above there are no facts to prove this theory as it has never been tested in presence of modern technology and equipment but one thing I know is that the modern Large Reverse Osmosis Plants do contain large tubes and these tubes make water travel for long distances as shown in diagram bellow.

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Reverse Osmosis Plant Tubes Though, gone are the days when we were innovative as well as cost concern, but poor nations like ours should give Nature prime priority. e- Solution of Direct Pollutants 1- Lahore District Government is dumping its collected waste on the bank of Ravi. It has taken this for granted that this is a dumping place for Waste. Honorable Court should order LDG to clean these mountains of waste shown below and strictly bound them not to repeat these practices in future.

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Mountains of Waste, at the bank of River RAVI, near Babu Sabu, and can be cleaned without much effort. There is no need of any kind of investment to clean these lands. There are more than 6 sites currently in NA 121 (Babu Sabu to Shade Wal Shanwa along with River Ravi) which can be identified and regarded as Waste dumping sites of Lahore Waste Management Authority. These waste materials contain all types of materials but plastic bags are present in large quantities. There is no need to explain how hazardous these materials are for human health and fisheries alike.

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2- From above mentioned Pictures it is evident that most of the waste material is non-recyclable plastic bag. These Plastic bags should be banned indefinitely and some other recyclable materials like paper bags and other materials should be promoted for general public use. 3- Environment Protection Department should also be directed to run a public awareness campaign to contain damages done by waste pollution.

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avi Protection Force (RPF)

A force under the name of RAVI Protection Force should be made. At first this should contain volunteers but on a larger and long term scale its members should be properly hired.

Purposes and Works of the Force: 1- Stop anyone from dumping waste into the river. 2- Issue Notices, Ban factories, make sure that no one discharge waste without cleaning it on the 1st level. 3- Find the real culprit with the help of random testing and regular monitoring. 4- Secure the whole River Ravi for tourists. 5- Should remain in contact with irrigation department and never let anyone involve in malpractices. 6- Maintain Clean Water Standard and to report if there is any malfunctioning in water supply to their relevant department for immediate fixation. 7- This force should also be given the mandate to fine Government officials if found violating the cord of conduct of river tributary. 8- The expense of RPF should be covered by its own activities and not from Local Government or Punjab Government. This is to make sure, this force remain out of any kind of political and departmental influence. In this way RPF will definitely be able to enforce the writ of law according to its mandate while remaining out of the cloches of corruption.

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estoration of River Ravi as a Tourist Resort;

The Guardian rated Lahore as the 2nd best tourist destination in Pakistan. But unfortunately we have been unable to save our Heritage. Ravi should be regarded as our National Heritage. Government can save a lot of Revenue as well as Restore Natural Outlook of the area.

Venice Model:
Venice city is inhabited by 272,000 people and according to World Tourism Organization, European Cities Tourism, National Statistics, National Tourist Boards, Local Tourism & Convention Bureaux, Trade Press (local and national newspapers, The Economist, Business Travel News), Euro monitor International data collectively says that it is worlds 28th largest tourist destination with respect to number of tourist per year. If we start building today, we will be able to get fruit in minimum 10 years. In 2006 alone 2.927 million tourists visited the city. Prof Pizzati, a former World Bank economist who now lectures at Venice's Ca' Foscari University said in an interview 70 billion Euros we pay in

taxes to Rome. Venice has been known as the "La Dominante", "Serenissima", "Queen of the Adriatic, "City of Water", "City of Masks", "City of Bridges", "The Floating City", and "City of Canals".
Luigi Barzini, called this city "undoubtedly the most beautiful city built by man" in New York Times on 28 March 2009.

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Venice has 118 small islands which are separated by canals and they are linked by bridges. The major attraction for tourists is Gondolas Government cant driven by Gondoliers. These are small provide jobs to everyone, beautiful boats with fascinating but can create such design and structure. Theses charge tourists according to time and not circumstances which with respect to destination point. provide Jobs to

everyone. Just imagine how large economic activity can be generated just because of converting River Ravi tributary into a Tourist Resort. How many new jobs opportunities can be created only because of planning properly and efficiently?
At first we can start tourist attraction activity at micro level. As grows the activity, so can be enlarged the region of the tourist resort. Detailed report of the proposal along with micro level details can be prepared and provided to Honorable court if required.

In Report of River Ravi Commission sub-committee: Findings of visits to Bioremediation sites, Islamabad &Waste Stabilization Ponds, Faisalabad coated JICA,2010, The preparatory study on Lahore water supply, sewerage and drainage improvement project in Pakistan, JICA report WASA Lahore report said that There are 15 large drains and municipalities in Lahore and Shekhupura discharging their waste into the River Ravi. There are 12 Major pumping stations in Lahore. Total Lahores pumping stations to date pumping capacity is 65.72 m3/s.

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luoride and Aftereffects;

The permissible limit of fluoride in drinking water is 1.5mg/l according to the National Standards for Drinking Water Quality of Pakistan [1] and World Health Organization [2]. Above this limit, Fluoride can lead to Various diseases such as Skeletal and Dental Fluorosis, brittle bones, cancer, infertility, brain damage, Alsheimers syndrome, and thytoid disorder. July 2000, Manga Mandi, Fluoride Level reached up to 20 ml/g in drinking water that led to the bone and teeth deformities in local people[3]. We have to take fluoride level according to International Standards. There has been no study publically available for the people which tell us the real intake of fluoride we are taking daily. There are many people around us whom are observing Skeletal and Dental Fluorosis, brittle bones and infertility. As these deceases are caused by high intake of fluoride this could be anybodys guess what we are giving to our children in water.

1- NSDWQ. National Standerd for Drinking Water Quality, Pakistan Environment Protection Agency, 2008, http://www.environment.gov.pk/act-rules/DWQStd-MAY2007.pdf 2- WHO, Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality, World Health Organization, 2011, http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2011/9789241548151_eng.pdf 3- M.Ahmad, B.Ahmad, S.N. Hussain, and S. Mahmood, Clinical investigations of skeletal flourosis in children of Manga Mandi in Pakistan, Pakistan Journal of Pharmaceutical Science, Vol. 16, no. 2, pp. 9-11,2003.