The Hindu 19.09.2009
State gives nod for 147-cr. drinking water project
Staff Reporter
| GMC will conduct a feasibility report |
Guntur among 13 urban local bodies to be benefited
GMC will call for global tenders for executing the project
GUNTUR: Guntur Municipal Corporation’s plans to put in place a comprehensive drinking water project keeping in view the future needs has received a boost with the State Government giving its nod for the project with an estimated cost of Rs.147 crore.
The GMC is expected to benefit largely by the project which aims to double the existing drinking water source from 45 M.L.D to 90 M.L.D. Under the project major works would be taken up including, laying a second pipe line from the raw water source at Mangalagiri to the filtration plant Takkelapadu, revamping the existing pipe line system and construction of new reservoirs in extension areas. Following the ‘in-principle’ nod by the State Government, GMC will now move ahead and call for global tenders for executing the project some time in 2010.
The city is among 13 other urban local bodies to be benefited by the decision of the Government. The ULBs have not been covered under the existing JNNURM project.
The GMC would also conduct a techno-economic feasibility study of the project.
Mayor Mohan Sai Krishna released copies of G.O Rt no. 1222 released by the Municipal Administration and Urban Development Department to media persons on Friday.
Though former Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy gave his nod for the project in July itself, it took nearly three months for the officials to give their nod.
The Mayor said a delegation of officials from the State and Central Governments would shortly visit United States and sign an agreement with the World Bank officials. Even though the GMC had submitted Detailed Project Reports worth Rs.147 crore last year itself, the Government asked it to revise the estimates.
The Mayor further said the project would be completed in a phased manner. In the first phase, Rs.33 crore would be released, followed by Rs.70 crore and Rs.45 crore. “The GMC will call for global tenders for this prestigious project and aim to complete it within two years,” Mr. Sai Krishna said.
