After spending crores of rupees under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, inferior work on a pipeline has left residents of Gangavaram in Ward 50 without adequate water in mid-summer.
Infrastructure has been created under Basic Services for Urban Poor at Gangavaram with a population of about 8,000. Infrastructure to 11 poor settlements, including Gangavaram, has been taken up at a total cost of Rs.98 crore of which Rs.85 crore is spent.
A pipeline has been laid for water supply to the village from Yeleru canal. The work was completed under the projects wing and was handed over to the maintenance wing about six months ago. Sources said the project was not tested and integrated when handed over as there was no water at that time. When supply started improper inter-connections of the pipeline came to light. For the past three months, leak verification, valve replacement and internal connection work has been going on the 20-km pipeline with 40 km length of small roads, it was learnt. When contacted Gajuwaka MLA Ch. Venkatramaiah said roads were laid over the pipeline and drains constructed and demanded that a separate pipeline be laid for which money must be recovered from the contractor.
At a meeting on Monday at Gajuwaka, Municipal Commissioner M.V. Satyanarayana also wanted the supply to be improved. He told The Hindu the contractor did a shoddy job and somewhat incomplete. When repair was carried out and water pumped it was leading to bursting of pipeline, he said.
Of the requirement of the village, only 40 per cent is being met. To improve the situation, it is proposed to lay new pipelines wherever there are gaps in the pipeline, he said. However, the repair work has been carried out and an amount of Rs.4.75 lakh recovered from the contractor, GVMC Engineering officials said. However, the main line has to be connected to the distribution line to provide individual tap connections. “All the families are under BPL and if they come forward individual tap connections will be provided,” they maintained.
