Faridabad MC seeks govt nod for fresh tenders to revive Rs 100 crore sewage pipeline project
The civic authorities have sought approval from the state government to release fresh tenders at revised rates for the completion of a sewage pipeline project worth around Rs 100 crore. The 14-km pipeline proposes to dispose of around 20 MLD of untreated sewage waste to the newly upgraded STP at Mirzapur village here.
With work on the construction of 5-km pipeline yet to be undertaken, the project has been hanging fire for the past over four years in the wake of issues, including the delay in NOC from the Forest Department and the UP Government.
According to sources in the Municipal Corporation, Faridabad (MCF), the agency, which was given the contract, left the work midway amid the hassles related to approval.
The project has already consumed a budget of around Rs 80 crore. While the hurdles regarding the NOCs stood clear since July this year, the revival process had recently been taken up, said an official.
The refusal by the contractor (agency) allotted the work initially to complete the project at the old rates (2018-19) — when the work had initially begun — has made the civic authorities seek approval for the release of fresh tenders as per the prevailing rates, besides the enhancement in the cost of material and labour up to 15 per cent.
Though a 9-km pipeline has already been laid, a 5-km pipeline from the Kheri Pul area to the STP at Mirzapur is proposed to be laid under the project. It envisages the laying of 1800-mm-diameter RCC (Reinforced Concrete Cement) pipes.
Though the pipes had been acquired many years ago, these have been lying dumped on the side of the Agra canal here. This supply from this pipeline would make the STP work at the full capacity of 80 MLD, said an official.
The Mirzapur plant had been among the two STPs upgraded at a cost of around Rs 240 crore. It had got operational in May this year. The civic authorities had to wait for around four years to get the NOC permissions for the pipeline as the land belongs to the UP Government.
The project was launched in 2019. With a capacity of less than 200 MLD, the city is facing a shortfall of 250 MLD in infrastructure related to sewage treatment. Around 70 per cent of the untreated waste is discharged into drains and the Yamuna river.
MCF Chief Engineer Birender Kardam said the approval for floating a new tender for the completion of the STP pipeline was likely to be sanctioned soon.
