The Hindu 28.05.2013
‘Rs.490 cr. needed for second phase of UG drainage scheme’
The Corporation may require an additional amount of Rs. 490 crore to complete the second phase of the underground drainage project, after having spent around Rs. 52 crore for the first phase a few years ago, an estimate prepared by a Bangalore-based consultant firm has said.
The first phase of the underground drainage programme was executed by the Corporation under the National River Water Conservation Programme, after it was found that the Tamirabharani was being increasingly polluted with drainage from houses and commercial establishments everyday.
However, only 20,403 houses and business establishments of the 1, 36, 647 entities in the civic body were covered in the first phase. Four drainage pumping stations and one sewage treatment plant were set up and pipes were laid for about 187 km out of the 963.54 km of road that comes under the Corporation. In other words, only 10 of the 55 wards were fully covered while another 22 wards were partially covered under the plan.
To bring the remaining areas under the underground drainage system, the Corporation planned to start the second phase of the work and roped in Bangalore-based Infra En Consulting Private Limited, to prepare the project report. “As per the report, the Corporation requires Rs. 490 crore to complete the second phase by laying pipelines for about 776.54 km to carry the drainage to Ramaiyanpatti in a scientific manner,” a senior official said.
Since the amount required for implementing the second phase of the programme is huge, the Corporation has decided to approach the Central and the State Governments for funding this infrastructure development scheme, which will help conserve the Tamirabharani from further pollution.
“Moreover, we’ve planned to approach the Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme for Small and Medium Town (UIDSSMT) so that the scheme can be completed within the stipulated period without any hitches,” the official added.