The Hindu 27.03.2013
Delay in UGD works hits VMC revenue
4 STPs, and 6 sump-cum-pump houses being constructed under JNNURM programme.
Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) is losing not less than Rs. 60 lakh per month due to inordinate delay in completion of Sewerage Treatment Plants (STPs) and sump cum pump houses etc in the city.
The VMC has been constructing 4 STPs, and 6 sump-cum-pump houses under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) programme in the city. The corporation has planned to construct two STPs at Jakkampudi and another two at Ajithsingh Nagar. While an STP at Jakkampudi is nearing completion, remaining are in different stages. The works have come to a grinding halt ever since the government has frozen the release of funds.
The VMC launched the UGD schemes with an estimate of Rs. 271.48 crore. However, it could complete the works to the tune of Rs. 185 crore up to 2011.
The contractors are shying away from completing the works as their bills were not cleared. The permissions from railway for laying pipelines under the railway tracks near Jakkampudi also delayed the progress.
The State government has not released nearly Rs. 200 crore due to the corporation under the JNNURM programme on technical grounds. The government argues that the VMC has not followed stipulated guidelines.
Had the government released mere Rs. 50 crore, the Corporation would have commenced some of the projects. Entire One Town area could be provided Under Ground Drainage (UGD) connections if the STPs etc were in place, officials said.
The UGD connections would fetch close to Rs. 6,500 per each connection as one time charges.
It includes road cutting, inspection, first water closet and next closet charges.
As the VMC has planned to provide one lakh connections, the receipts on UGD services would fetch Rs. 60 lakh per month.
The corporation has been losing these receipts for the last two years. The corporation incurs an expenditure of Rs. 7 crore on the UGD services.
However, mere Rs. 2.5 crore is recovered from the users, the officials said.
