The Hindu 16.11.2009
No takers for sewerage network extension project
Sangeetha Unnithan
| Scarcity of construction materials, spiralling prices |
Scarcity of sand hits work on Rs.80-crore sewage treatment plant at Muttathara
Residents plan stir demanding immediate installation of drainage system
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Scarcity of construction materials, spiralling prices, inter-departmental issues and administrative delays are discouraging prospective bidders from taking up development projects in the city.
Many projects, including multi-crore schemes funded under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), are now getting indefinitely delayed owing to lack of response from bidders. One among them is the project to extend the sewerage network in the Corporation area. Civic officials said there were no takers for the project even though national tender for the project had been floated twice, with revised estimates.
Rs.215.41-crore project
The Rs.215.41-crore sewerage project includes construction of a Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) at Muttathara and extension of sewer lines to 11 blocks covering 63.65 sq km to Ulloor, Kadakampally, Attipra, Nemom and Thiruvallam area.
The project is to be implemented in three phases with construction of a 107 mld (million litres daily) STP in the first phase and laying of sewer lines in the next two phases. Although work on the STP has already begun, the extension of sewer lines is yet to begin.
“The tender for the sewer line laying work was floated first in May. By this time the work should have reached half way. However, due to various reasons, including scarcity of materials and non-cooperation of certain section, there have been no takers for the tender,” said Mayor C. Jayan Babu.
Digging road
He said the drainage lines had to be laid by cutting public roads. While at some places the lines will be laid at a depth of 3 m, at other places the lines will have to be laid up to a depth of 7 m to maintain the flow. “So even if the work begins, it will involve road cutting and land acquisition. The prospective bidders have the same apprehension about taking up such works in our city,” he said.
Mr. Jayan Babu said the Delhi-based agency implementing the Rs.80-crore STP project was also facing troubles due to scarcity of construction materials. “The company has already set up its office and machinery at the site. Work is progressing at the plant and we have regular review meetings. However, scarcity of sand has affected the works, like all other construction work in the city,” the mayor said.
300 loads
The company officials have informed the Corporation that they require 300 loads of sand a month to complete the work on scheduled time. Efforts to bring sand from Bangalore also failed. The STP project is expected to be completed by September 2010.
“To overcome the issue of sand scarcity the Corporation has directed contractors and official to use Manufactured (M) Sand for their works. Poabson group is one of the few companies manufacturing good quality M Sand. But they have already received advance from many other agencies and construction companies. So most of their supply goes to these companies,” he said.
Stir plan
Meanwhile, the Residents’ Association of Muttathara Ward is preparing to launch an agitation demanding immediate installation of a drainage system in the ward. The association recently stalled the laying of drainage pipes from the newly constructed airport terminal to the old Sewerage Farm at Muttathara.
The association has taken the stand that no additional drainage can be directed to the Muttathara farm without installing a drainage system in the ward.
“Muttathara is a thickly populated coastal ward where sewerage from the entire city is being dumped for the last 65 years. However, we do not have a drainage system for ourselves in this ward. The lack of a drainage system here and the pumping of sewerage from the rest of the city have been raising serious health issues for the people here,” said association general secretary Muttathara Mohanan.
