PANAJI
Accusing the Public Works Department of floating tenders for the Panaji sewerage network project without preparing any technical or engineering report, design, drawing and estimates, Goa Forward Party Vice President Durgadas Kamat has warned this would delay work and escalate the project cost.
"The Rs 132 crore Panaji Sewage Network Rehabilitation project contract will be allotted without proper planning. All PWD engineers concerned will be in trouble if the project tender is allotted in such manner,” said Durgadas Kamat, while addressing a news conference at the party office in Panaji.
“If the tendering process is challenged in court, it will be another controversial project like the allotment of the Special Economic Zones,” said Kamat.
Kamat said the tender has been floated by the PWD for the Panaji Sewage Network Rehabilitation project as part of the Panaji Smart City project.
"The present underground sewage infrastructure is damaged at multiple locations and sewage is flowing in and out of network during low tide. The PWD has floated tenders without preparing any technical or engineering report.”
Kamat said as per his consultation with experts, the PWD will take 5-7 years to complete the project and the project cost may increase by 250-300 per cent as no proper design and estimates have been prepared by PWD.
Kamat also said the 0.5 MLD sewerage treatment plant at Patto was demolished in 2014 and the new plant is under construction.
“So for the last six years, untreated sewerage from EDC Patto Plaza, KTC bus stand area and Patto Government quarters is left in the Mandovi river,” alleged Kamat.
Kamat claimed that BJP’s former Panaji MLA Sidharth Kunkoliencar had also warned about the Panaji sewerage network project. “Request @GovtofGoa @Goacm @Goacm@ Dr Pamod Sawant to instruct to at least plan project and not vague works @Prabhu Pauskar,” Sidharth Kuncoliencar had stated in his tweet.
