GUNTUR: The works of the `902 crore underground drainage (UGD) project launched in the city on February 1, are going on at a snail’s pace. The slow pace of drainage project works is creating doubts in the minds of people about its timely completion.
At present, only a few area in the city like Arundelpet, Brodiepeta, Old Guntur and Lalapeta have the underground drainage facility. The old UGD system was damaged at several places. Overflowing of sewage water on to the streets and choked manholes are a common sight.
As a measure to promote sanitation in the city, the Centre sanctioned `733 crore for the Guntur Municipal Corporation (GMC) for execution of the UGD project. The GMC has envisaged the project to cover 1.4 lakh houses in the city. Eleven sewage treatment plants will be built as part of the project.
Some GMC officials have expressed their dissatisfaction over the slow pace of the work progress. The contract agency which got the UGD project, is laying 300 metre underground drainage pipeline only a day on an average at present against the requirement of 3 km pipeline to complete it as per schedule.
If the slow pace of pipeline laying work continues, it needs to lay 5 km of pipeline a day in the coming months to meet the deadline, which is a Herculean task.
Annoyed by the slow pace of UGD works, the GMC and Public Health Department officials have initiated measures to sort out the practical difficulties coming in the way in execution of the project by holding discussions with the contractor. It has been proposed to execute the project zone-wise to speed up the works and ensure its completion as per schedule.
GMC Superintending Engineer D Mariyanna said: “The contractor should focus on completion of the UGD project as per schedule by speeding up the pipeline laying works.”
Public Health Department Executive Engineer T Sampath Kumar who held a review meeting with representatives of the contract agency on the progress of UGD project, said they were facing difficulty in procurement of sand.
About 1,000 cubic metres of sand is needed per day for the works. The contract agency has reached an agreement with sand contractors of Krishna district for supply of the raw material. The UGD works will be speeded up in the coming days keeping in view the ensuing rainy season.”