The Goa State Sewerage & Infrastructure Development Corporation has prepared estimates for the replacement of the ageing 7-km long Arlem-Sirovdem underground line, but the estimates will remain on paper unless backed by government funding.
Rough estimates have put the laying of an underground line to a whopping Rs 80 crore. Sewerage Corporation Managing Director Arvind Patil says the Corporation has plans to lay a new line in two phases, but hastened to add that the project can get underway only if the funds are made available by the government.
“The proposal for replacement of the old line would soon go to the government for administrative approval. We are proposing to the government to make a budgetary provision for funding of the project,” he said.
Says Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai: “The media had been highlighting the issue for quite some time. I had personally taken up the issue in the Assembly. The concerned Minister has promised me to do the needful, but the ground reality remains unchanged. I only hope the government honours its word and makes budgetary allocation to take up the work on a topmost priority.”
