The Hindu 28.05.2013
‘Rs.490 cr. needed for second phase of UG drainage scheme’
The Corporation may require an additional amount of Rs.
490 crore to complete the second phase of the underground drainage
project, after having spent around Rs. 52 crore for the first phase a
few years ago, an estimate prepared by a Bangalore-based consultant firm
has said.
The first phase of the underground
drainage programme was executed by the Corporation under the National
River Water Conservation Programme, after it was found that the
Tamirabharani was being increasingly polluted with drainage from houses
and commercial establishments everyday.
However, only
20,403 houses and business establishments of the 1, 36, 647 entities in
the civic body were covered in the first phase. Four drainage pumping
stations and one sewage treatment plant were set up and pipes were laid
for about 187 km out of the 963.54 km of road that comes under the
Corporation. In other words, only 10 of the 55 wards were fully covered
while another 22 wards were partially covered under the plan.
To
bring the remaining areas under the underground drainage system, the
Corporation planned to start the second phase of the work and roped in
Bangalore-based Infra En Consulting Private Limited, to prepare the
project report. “As per the report, the Corporation requires Rs. 490
crore to complete the second phase by laying pipelines for about 776.54
km to carry the drainage to Ramaiyanpatti in a scientific manner,” a
senior official said.
Since the amount required for
implementing the second phase of the programme is huge, the Corporation
has decided to approach the Central and the State Governments for
funding this infrastructure development scheme, which will help conserve
the Tamirabharani from further pollution.
“Moreover,
we’ve planned to approach the Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme
for Small and Medium Town (UIDSSMT) so that the scheme can be completed
within the stipulated period without any hitches,” the official added.