TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: The mega Rs 136 crore sewerage lines project at Taleigao-Caranzalem and adjoining areas linking them to the new 12.5 MLD treatment plant has hit a road block due to the fear of land sinking and excavation difficulties.
The PWD has, therefore, been forced to go slow on its on-going works at Taleigao. It is now preparing a plan for revision of the project designs due to increasing excavation difficulties.
A top source in the Public Works Department (water and sanitation) told Herald that on-going works for laying sewerage lines are facing severe problems as the high water table in the Taleigao belt is hampering work of laying sewerage lines measuring about four kilometres in length.
“The ground water table is so high that the trenches dug are getting filled with water instantly. This compels us to flush out the water more frequently than required,” said this official.
The PWD has, however, realised that round-the-clock flushing out of water, though required, may have adverse consequences for residential colonies in close proximity.
“If we keep on draining out the water, it could cause en masse sinking of the soil and a threat to nearby residential colonies and houses,” he said adding that the PWD is not willing to take any such chances that could endanger property and life.
While technical options of compacting or consolidation of the soil would not work to the advantage of the department’s on-going work~ which officials say is already running behind schedule~ plans have been submitted for re-designing much of the work left to be completed in Taleigao itself.
When contacted Chief Engineer (CE-I) D S Borkar said, “We have submitted a plan to the government for revision of the project designs.” This is only for the pending work in the areas of Taleigao.
According to the revised plans, the PWD proposes to lessen the depths for excavation by at least two to three meters so as to avoid contact with the ground water table.
“While this may reduce the gravity required for facilitating flow of sewage through the pipelines we are also proposing to increase the number of pumping stations for Taleigao area,” Borkar said.
We are also given to understand that the cost of the project may go up by 10 per cent if the plans are revised for Taleigao.
So far work on only one kilometre stretch has been completed out of the close to five kilometres stretch of Taleigao proposed to be covered under the new scheme.
Work had started in January 2013 and the PWD says it is difficult to give a deadline as to when it would complete the works in Taleigao.
