LAHORE: The Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) is all set to install smart meters at its 711265 domestic and commercial connections, as the planning and development board`s public & private partnership cell has formally approved the launch of this project in the light of the Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar`s order.
`The project worth Rs10.353 billion will be completed within a period of two years, Wasa MD Syed Zahid Aziz said in a press release on Friday. `The consumers will pay the cost of meters in 10 years. However, cost of the meters will immediately be paid by the private partners (with 80 per cent share) and the government with 20 per cent contribution,`Mr Aziz said.
He said the smart metering project would enable Wasa to recover 40 per cent revenue from its non-revenue water (losses due to billing without meters). `Moreover, it will also help us in controlling illegal water connections and per capita water consumption, irresponsible use of water, increasing underground water level and water conservation in Lahore,` he added.
