IT hub waits for clog to clear

Fund shortage hits ambitious sewerage plans in Serilingampally

September 14, 2013 12:55 am | Updated June 02, 2016 12:08 pm IST - Hyderabad:

The wait for a modern underground sewerage system continues for Serilingampally. The IT hub of Hitec city and Madhapur has to suffer the ignominy of discharging its sewerage into storm water drains and in the open for a few more months.

The Sewerage Master Plan being implemented here is expected to be complete not before March 2014.

Shortage of funds is to blame, leading to work progressing only in fits and starts.

The cash-strapped HMWSSB desperately needs Rs. 350 crore to complete sewerage works in Serilingampally, Rajendernagar besides Zone I and II of Old City.

The Water Board has already spent Rs. 1,300 crore on the 11 assignments taken up under phase-I of the Rs. 2,000 crore JNNURM scheme.

The Board requires Rs. 700 crore for completion of the ongoing works. Of this, Rs. 350 crore will be shared by Central and State governments while the remainder has to be mobilised by the Water Board.

Since the latter is not in a position to raise this amount, it expects the government or the GHMC to bail it out. The civic body owes more than Rs. 400 crore to the Water Board, the latter’s share of property tax.

“If the GHMC gives its share we can easily implement the sewerage scheme,” a senior Board official said.

The Rs. 200.38 crore sewerage plan being executed in three packages in Serlingampally is only 75 per cent complete till date.

The plan envisages laying of lateral sewers, sub mains, trunk mains and construction of series of Sewerage Treatment Plants (STPs).

Though the master plan has been conceived for all surrounding municipalities, the Board took up its implementation on a priority basis in Serilingampally municipal circle because of its importance as an IT hub.

Funds apart, a vigilance enquiry has also slowed down the sewerage works.

For nearly two-and-half years, the contracted firms did not get their payment.

Now, part-payment has been made and officials expect the works to be expedited.

The sewerage plan covers the catchments zones of BHEL, Miyapur, Gachibowli, Kondapur and Madhapur.

The plan also includes construction of 6 STPs at BHEL, Khajaguda, Nanakramguda, Gopinagar cheruvu, Suram cheruvu, Beverly Hills, and Gopanapally cheruvu.

While work is in progress at all places, land acquisition is taking place at Gopanapally.

“The STPs at Nanakramguda and Khajaguda are nearly complete while the one at Lingamkunta has been delayed due to court intervention,” says M. Satyanarayana, director (Projects), HMWSSB.

Other areas

At Rajendernagar, municipal circle improvement of water supply distribution and sewerage master plan works are in progress. The Rs. 314.26 core project taken up under JNNURM is complete to an extent of 60 per cent so far.

The comprehensive water supply plan includes construction of 5 RCC ground-level storage reservoirs (GLSRs), provision of inlet, outlet and distribution network under the command areas of the reservoirs. Reservoirs have been proposed at Budwel, Golden Heights, Shastripuram and Suleman Nagar.

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