Early Times Report
Jammu, Dec 29: Sewerage treatment plant and Sewerage network system in Jammu city has become a victim of faulty planning, resulting in the denial of intended benefits of the scheme to the people of the winter capital in Jammu and Kashmir.
The government in May 2016 decided as per the official documents to construct 4 Million Litre Day (MLD), Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP) with sewer network for discharge of sewage of Jammu city after treatment into river Tawi. The proposal was approved by SLTC/ SHPC and the land at village Rakh Raipur Satwari, Jammu was identified for construction of STP.
The DPR was approved on 3 August 2016 by the SHPC at a cost of Rs 28.77 crore, however, subsequently it was decided in August that year to shift the location of STP at Bhagwati Nagar, Jammu due to non-acquisition of land at the identified site. Accordingly, the DPR for the new location of the project was revised at a cost of Rs 27.51 crore in January 2017.
Documents reveal that Chief Engineer, UEED, Jammu in April 2017 directed the Executive Engineer, Sewerage and Drainage Division, Jammu to invite tenders for STP and Sewerage network separately.
However, single tender was invited in May 2017 for both 4 MLD, STP and Sewerage network of five Nallahs. This tender was cancelled due to lack of response. Thereafter, tenders for construction of 4 MLD STP-On SBR technology including operation and maintenance for five years, construction of office building, boundary wall, approach road and all electro mechanical components- were invited again during July and August 2017 which could not be finalised either due to lack of response or receipt of single bid.
Finally in September 2017, M/s M. M Enviro Project Private Limited (being L-1 among three bidders) was awarded in November 2017 construction of STP at a cost of Rs 6.95 crore to be completed in two years.
Tenders for the project were also delayed because the DPR referred to adoption of SBR technology-SBR (Sequential Batch Reactors) are a type of activated sludge process for the treatment of waste water.. The environmental clearance for construction of STP was not obtained till recently from the State Pollution Control Board.
The civil work has been completed to the extent of 80 per cent, procurement/ installation of electro mechanical equipment has been completed to the extent of 80 and 70 per cent respectively at an expenditure of Rs 6.36 crore at present.
Thus, due to delay in tendering process, non-finalisation of contract in time, the construction of STP could not be completed despite incurring an expenditure of Rs 6.36 crore, with the result that untreated sewage water was still being discharged in river Tawi, causing pollution to the famed water body. |
