the goan I network
MAPUSA
The State government has to pay atleast Rs 60 crore to Simplex Infrastructures Ltd for various works undertaken under the JICA project in Goa including Rs 15 crore for the ongoing sewerage work undertaken in Mapusa.
Sources claim that atleast 20 percent of the work remains pending in Mapusa and Calangute. Sewerage pipelines and chambers have to be installed on the main road from Hotel Satyaheera to old municipality building while some chambers have to be installed on a small stretch in Guansavaddo in Mapusa.
Similarly, in Calangute, except for the main Baga road and the stretch from St Anthony Chapel to Candolim road, most of the work on the internal roads has been completed.
According to Simplex officials, work along the Calangute coastal belt was stopped in October after public started complaining of facing another bleak tourism season.
The delay in payments will drag the work beyond monsoon, further inconveniencing the residents of Mapusa and Calangute.
“If there is proper cash flow, work can be completed before the monsoons. The cash crunch and uncertainty in government formation can further delay the project,” a source at Simplex said.
Similar fate is in store on works at the sewerage treatment plants (STP) in Mapusa and Calangute.
Almost 80 percent work on the STP has been completed in Mapusa, while 90 percent of the work on Calangute STP has been completed. Delay in release of funds has led to suspension of work in both the STPs.
“Almost entire civil work is complete in both the STPs in Mapusa and Calangute. Mechanical equipment has to be set up in Mapusa and some
electrical work is pending in Calangute,” said Omprakash, Project Manager of SMC Infrastructures Pvt Ltd, which is undertaking the works on setting up of STPs.
Officials at the PWD looking after the sewerage project in the State admitted that financial crunch has indeed led to delay in completion of works.
“Work has stopped because of financial crunch. Earlier, the funds were transferred to our
department directly from JICA. But now the funds are routed through the State government. Paucity of funds has led to the delay in the completion of the project,” said a senior PWD engineer under the condition of anonymity.
