Indian Express 05.08.2010
Civic body to tap JNNURM for stormwater development
Express News Service Tags : projects, JNNURM Posted: Thu Aug 05 2010, 02:25 hrs
Ahmedabad: The civic authorities plans to approach the JNNURM directorate for an additional Rs 100 crore to finance its supplementary infrastructure development to tackle the city waterlogging problem. The heavy rainfall over the last few days has led to massive waterlogging across Ahmedabad.Municipal Commissioner I P Gautam on Wednesday said the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation had started mapping the waterlogging prone areas in the new west zone and eastern parts where heavy accumulation of water was consistently reported between 2005 and 2006.
Based on this mapping, the AMC will approach the JNNURM directorate with a plea for financing the supplementary infrastructure to stem the problem that arose mainly due to the 6 metre difference in gradient between Chandlodia and Srinandnagar in Vejalpur.
“Pumping out water will play havoc in the Fatehwadi area and this leaves us with no option but to go for supplementary planning for the extension of stormwater lines,” Gautam said.
He said the new proposal for seeking additional funding from JNNURM directorate will be moved in the next couple of months.
AMC Opposition seeks judicial probe into waterlogging, road cave-ins
The AMC Opposition has demanded a judicial inquiry by a sitting judge into reasons and fixation of responsibility for waterlogging and road cave-ins this monsoon. It has also asked the city administration to issue a white paper on the subject.
AMC Opposition leader Surendra Baxi on Wednesday said exemplary action should be meted out to those found responsible for the tardy implementation of road projects.
He said that poor quality of construction is responsibility of the contractor and the administration must ensure that
erring contractors do not escape their liability arising out of poor work.
Baxi said the AMC had spent Rs 621 crore on laying sewerage and stormwater drainage lines and Rs 669 crore on construction of roads under JNNURM projects but that did not help reduce the problem of waterlogging in Ahmedabad.
