TEAM HERALD
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PANJIM: Public Works Department proposes to float tenders worth Rs 71 crore for new water distribution and consumer service lines for Panjim, this February, an official said Monday, in the wake of the water contamination reported in parts of the city over the last few days.
The capital city’s antiquated water supply lines have been of grave concern, with serious cases of contamination reported, particularly in the last one decade.
Two years from now, Panjim can hope to have a new water distribution line and service connections with the PWD finally getting works underway for implementing the Rs 71 crore project through the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).
“We will be floating tenders for this mega work next month,” Executive Engineer Division III Dilip Dhavalikar told Herald.
The project proposed by PWD has been approved under JNNURM for replacing the entire pipeline network within the Corporation of the City of Panjim (CCP’s) jurisdiction.
Officials say both PWD’s distribution line and consumer service lines are in urgent need of replacement as earlier attempts to rope in public participation met with poor response. “Only a few people came forward to change their consumer lines,” said Dhavalikar adding that PWD mooted its proposal for a total revamp of the lines last year.
The project has been approved and will involve both the State government and CCP. Under the funding pattern, 10 per cent of the cost will be borne by the State government, 10 per cent by the city corporation and the balance by JNNURM.
Dhavalikar said that it would take at least two years to complete the work. There would be no change in the diameter of the one inch or three-fourth inch consumer lines nor in the 400 to 500 mm distribution lines, the official informed.
Meanwhile, Additional District Magistrate (North) P K Kankar has ordered the closure of the road from the Raj Bhavan entrance to the NIO from today to January 21, Ocean Heights to Ocean Park from January 22 to January 28; Kamat Kinara to Dominos, Caranzalem from today to March 31 and from Dominos, Caranzalem to Aivao village from today to January 28 for laying sewerage lines.
