Team Herald
MARGAO: Is it jinxed or is it a coincidence of slow work? Whatever it is, major water pipeline projects have more or less ended up in embarrassment. The water pipeline work worth over Rs 105 crores allotted in 2012 and funded by the Japanese agency JICA is one such project where the PWD has failed to deliver.
The PWD had tendered the Construction of Transmission Mains, Distribution Mains and Reservoirs for Salaulim Water Supply System to be completed within 24 months. The work order was issued on 11-09-2012 to M/s. Vishwa-ECL (JV) Andhra Pradesh and cost of which was the lowest bid amounting to Rs.104.51 crores, 3.7% below the amount put to tender.
However, even as the work started on 17-10-2012 and the deadline was capped at 16-10-2014, five years later since the project started, it is nowhere near completion.
The project was supposed to cover all across South Goa except Canacona covering seven constituencies. The areas that were supposed to be benefited included village panchayats of Colva, Betalbatim, Varca, Orlim, Cavelossim, Guddemol, Bhati, Barcem, Municipal areas of Margao and Mormugao. A total of 3,55,000 residents would have benefitted.
The work of water distribution has been slow since beginning and the PWD Engineers had highlighted the same in their reports. Herald had access to a report on the work status wherein the Engineer had said, “Overall only 73.19% of the pipelines were complete and a very meagre amount of 17.2% of the reservoir work was over. Substantial amount of work was pending. Several letters written to the contractor have failed to evoke any response.
The agency/contractor has been paid Rs 70 crores by JICA out of contractual amount of Rs 104 crores which is 2/3rd of the job. The most disturbing fact is that the contractor may have laid over 70% of the lines but has failed to connect the mains at several locations in South Goa defeating its continuity.
Herald’s tried getting in touch with many of the supervising engineers but to no avail. RTI Activist Sriram Raiturkar from Margao said “Earlier, assurances given to the CM were not adhered to by the contractor; the residents hoped that assurances given by Minister for PWD recently will be adhered to but nothing happened,” he lamented.
“Hordes of people have been waiting for portable water supply but the Government and the PWD along with the contractor have failed,” alleged Raiturkar.
He recalled how he and Councillor Ketan Kurtarkar had to literally run after the engineers and contractors to get the mains connected to the domestic supplies in areas like Khareband, Shirvodem, Chinchal and many others. “When will the people of South Goa get the supply and when will their thirst be quenched,” asked Sriram.
There are several villages across Goa and especially Salcete who have denied NOC
for the water pipelines to pass through their villages further delaying the work.
However, the report of the EE of PWD JICA has been amply clear that the delay is resulting in drying up hope of 24-hour water supply to the people of South Goa.
