Sand ban hits PWD projects
JULIAN D’CRUZ
PANJIM: Infrastructure projects worth Rs 500 to Rs 1000 crore have been affected with Public Works Department (PWD) running out of sand and the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) having stocks to last just one month.
Almost two months after the National Green Tribunal added to sand mining woes by banning sand extraction and in addition no licences being issued by the State to extract sand in the past two years, the effect has cascaded to construction agencies and their contractors leading to a huge setback for projects.
“As many as 40 to 50 PWD projects will be affected,” Principal Chief Engineer JS Rego said elaborating that building works, water supply works and other projects which are underway are unlikely to meet deadlines.
To add to the PWD’s woes, Herald has accessed communiqués from contractors who have expressed their inability to take on new works already tendered due to the shortage of sand.
One of the contractors who have bagged a Rs 5 crore project told Herald that he has already expressed his inability to the PWD to take up the project tendered to him three months ago.
“Since the work order has not been issued, I have already told the PWD not to issue it to me as I will find it very difficult to commence the work due to shortage of sand,” the contractor told Herald on condition of anonymity.
Another contractor told us that he has suspended major repair works on a government site and is not sure as to when he would be able to resume the works.
These two contractors are among the many who have approached various divisions of the PWD expressing concerns over the shortage of sand and their inability to continue on-going works.
The GSIDC appointed contractors are also complaining.
According to Managing Director of GSIDC, Sanjit Rodrigues, “Our contractors are having huge problems due to shortage of sand but are making alternate arrangements.”
While GSIDC says that at the moment work is progressing though not at the speed it should, Rodrigues said. “In case the problem of shortage of sand persists for another month then there could be a problem and we will have to take a call on the situation,” he said.
Already reeling under financial problems to take on new works, the corporation is now reeling under the heavy weight of major projects slated to augment infrastructure development in the health and education sector as the shortage of sand may delay commencement of projects.
The GSIDC is currently trying hard to finish the Captain of Ports Jetty, renovation and re-construction of government school buildings, second phase of the Goa Dental College, renovation and construction of health centres and has more than a dozen new projects on anvil, which includes infrastructure at Goa Medical College, new bridges, etc.
Prasad Rao, Managing Director of Venkata Rao Infrastructure Projects Pvt Ltd who is currently the contractor for many government construction projects said, “The shortage of sand is turning out to be a huge problem for all categories of contractors.”
Rao who is a key player in the construction business in Goa and has more than five to six government projects on his hands which are time-bound, also seemed worried.
“We are in a Catch-22 situation where we have to complete works within a deadline or face action while on the other non-availability of sand is virtually slowing down the progress of work.”
Rao said that his company has temporarily made alternate arrangements from Maharashtra to get crushed aggregates. “This too is limited,” he said.
He said that his company is applying for extension of time to complete many of the government projects and is hoping for some solutions by appropriate authorities regarding sand shortage.
Presently, his company is diverting all resources to complete on-going works for the Lusofonia Games, Aldona-Calvin bridge, tourism cruise jetty while other projects such as the Yojana Bhavan, College for Arts and Science at Sanquelim and another at Khandola has taking a back seat.
IN THE DOCK
Captain of Ports Jetty
Renovation and re-construction of govt school buildings
Second phase of the Goa Dental College
Renovations and construction of health centres
Infrastructure development at Goa Medical College
Kerim Tiracol Bridge
