Lahore: The demand for thirst increases in extreme heat, but clean drinking water facilities are not available for those who come for recreation in most of Lahore’s parks, people have to buy water.
Lahore Safari Park, which has been upgraded at a cost of 2.5 crore rupees, has introduced many modern facilities for tourists, but there is no provision of cold and clean water for those who come here for entertainment. Fieldwork staff at the Safari Zoo also have to buy clean water.
Like Lahore Safari Park, Wildlife Park Jalu, Bagh Jinnah, Gulshan Iqbal Park, Greater Iqbal Park, Shahi Qila and other entertainment places of the city are also in the same situation. Cold water coolers are installed in some parks and recreation centers, but in some places the coolers are broken and blocked, and in some places the water is not fit for drinking.
According to experts, underground water is used with the help of motor pumps in the coolers installed for drinking water, but the underground water of Lahore is not potable. At least 200 feet of drilling is required to obtain fresh water, while fresh water is available at a depth of up to 800 feet in some areas.
Most parks and recreation centers that have cold water coolers have an attached water tank that is filled by a motor pump, but it is not possible to get water from a depth of 800 feet with a normal motor pump. Motor pumps are usually installed by boring up to 150 to 200 feet and are not potable.
There are drinking water coolers at several places in Wildlife and Forest Park Jalu but all of them are damaged and closed. Water coolers were installed in Lahore Zoo, according to the administration, water filtration plant is also included in the revamping project, but the zoo is still closed for tourists.
Manager of Lahore Safari Zoo and Deputy Director Wildlife Lahore Region Tanveer Ahmed Janjua said that the samples of the underground water of the Safari Park are being tested in the laboratory. After the reports, water filtration plants will be installed to provide clean drinking water to the recreational tourists.
Outside the main gate of Gurdwara Dera Sahib Lahore in Great Qabal Park, a water filtration plant has been privately installed at a significant cost from which people drink water. Local employees said that earlier there were coolers at different places, but here the canteens intentionally damage them.
Sources also say that the contractors of the canteens in the parks do not allow water filtration plants to be installed or damage the already installed water coolers so that those who come for recreation can buy water from them.