Indian Express 30.09.2009
Company served with default notice appointed for Vishwamitri project
The Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) has given nod for preparation of the Vishwamitri Project to the same company it had issued notice earlier for delaying a project under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).
In December 2008, the civic body had issued a notice to Multi Mantech India Pvt Ltd for delay in construction of a housing colony for urban poor as part of JNNURM. The absence of the company’s engineers from the construction site was found to be the reason for the delay in the project. Sources said VMC has awarded several other projects to the same company.
V M Tailor, City Engineer, VMC, told Newsline: “Multi Mantech in association with Abam Merger, a France-based expert in handling such projects, will prepare the detailed report on Vishwamitri project. The permission to this effect has already been given.”
VMC has already spent Rs 135 crore on Vishwamitri project, which will cost about Rs 350 crore.
Vadodara Mayor Balkrishna Shukla said, “We have already spent Rs 135 crore on rehabilitation of 4,500 slum-dwellers who will be shifted from the riverbank. Another Rs 80 crore will be spent on flood mitigation. A major flood-like situation happens due to Bhukhi Kans water body and we have made a provision to tackle the situation. We will spend Rs 15 crore to stop dumping of drainage water into the river. About Rs 90 crore will be spent on widening and about Rs 40 crore on beautification of the river.”
Last year, F J Charpot, VMC Executive Engineer, JNNURM projects, had issued a notice to the Multi Mantech International to ensure speedy work on the projects. The VMC had asked the company to depute more engineers and instructed them to work even on holidays so that projects are not delayed.
