Work fails to resume on sludge carrier project as farmers oppose move

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, September 20

Work on laying the 12.5-km-long parallel pipeline adjoining the sullage carrier to increase its capacity failed to resume due to the protest by farmers of Gehri Baghi village here on Friday. Farmers had refused to give their land for the project. 

A large number of police personnel were deployed near Gehri Baghi village in the district where the administration wanted to resume the work on the project on Friday.

Several officials, including Bathinda SDM Amarinder Singh Tiwana, MC XEN Kishore Bansal and Sewerage Board XEN Ashwani Kumar, were present on the spot.

The protesting farmers said the court has given stay on the land and if the administration wants to start the work, it should first show the documents which give officials permission to acquire the land.

It is learnt that farmers told the SDM that they cannot start the work as the issue is sub judice. Thereafter, the SDM sought the land revenue record on the spot and showed it to the farmers that the land belongs to the government. 

Later, the farmers proposed that the pipeline should be laid opposite side along with irrigation water. On it, the administration is planning to conduct a survey to check whether it is feasible to lay the pipeline on that side.

The project had started in 2015, but the work on it was stopped after laying a 4.8-km pipeline due to opposition by farmers, who had moved the court.

The main sludge carrier was constructed in 1991 and had capacity of carrying 104-million litre per day.

In 2013, the MC had decided to lay a 12-km-long parallel pipe with a diameter of 48 inches to enhance the capacity of the sludge carrier at a cost of Rs 17.20 crore. The sludge carrier carries the water treated at the sewage treatment plant (STP) and further empties it into fields.

Later, a detailed project report was prepared and the state government also gave approval, but the project remained on the back-burner. In 2015, Noida-based Triveni Company was roped in and it has been able to lay only 4.8-km pipeline till date.

Due to less capacity of the sludge carrier, many breaches have been reported in the past and residents have to face a lot of problems. 

The problem intensifies during monsoons as the pressure on the sludge carrier increases, leading to a breach. This year, the MC had faced a tough time during rain as it was not able to release the accumulated rainwater into the sludge carrier due to the breach.  

VB Shivangi, DGM, Triveni Company, said, “A total of 20 workers were on the spot with JCB machines to resume the work. But due to the objection by farmers, the work was not resumed on Friday. Later, farmers proposed that the pipeline should be laid opposite side of the sludge carrier. Now, we, along with the MC and the Sewerage Board, will conduct a survey in this regard.”

The Bathinda SDM said, “We have resolved the issue as we showed the entire revenue record of the land to the farmers. A person had filed a case and got the stay. But, that land does not come within the project. We have told the farmers that we will lay the pipeline only on the land that belongs to the government. We will not touch land of villagers. They sought 15 days as their crops are standing there. Now, we will resume the work after 15 days.”

Started in 2015, 4.8-km pipeline laid till date 

• The project had started in 2015, but the work on it was stopped after laying a 4.8-km pipeline due to opposition by farmers, who had moved the court. The main sludge carrier was constructed in 1991 and had capacity of carrying 104-million litre per day
• In 2013, the MC had decided to lay a 12-km-long parallel pipe with a diameter of 48 inches to enhance the capacity of the sludge carrier at a cost of Rs 17.20 crore. The sludge carrier carries the water treated at the sewage treatment plant and further empties it into fields
• Later, a detailed project report was prepared and the state government also gave approval, but the project remained on the back-burner. In 2015, Noida-based Triveni Company was roped in and it has been able to lay only 4.8-km pipeline till date