Operation salvage: Rs 1200-cr WB project saved,babu let off

The Rs 1200 crore project,out of which Rs 960 crore was to be given by the WB is being implemented in Punjab since 2006. The project aimed at augmenting rural water supply and sanitation systems in all the villages (about 12000) in the state. Early this year the WB withheld its last dole to the state worth Rs 260 crore after the implementation of the project came to a virtual stand still.

The senior IAS officer in-charge of the department declared himself as the project director withdrawing the powers from the chief engineer who was implementing the project all this while. He also withdrew the WB money lying in a nationalized bank and got it deposited in a private bank. He also ordered that all tenders under the project,-which are in thousands- will be routed through him.

Following a scathing letter from WB to the chief minister regarding the manner in which the project was being implemented the IAS officer was promptly transferred out of the department. The WB also decided not to release the rest of amount due to the state,killing all hopes of the state getting a similar project for phase II of implementation.

A host of meetings with WB officials followed and intensive implementation of the project was undertaken. A peeved WB however revived the project only after extensive filed visits by as many as 16 experts covering 64 schemes in all the 22 districts of the state. Sources add that at several places where water supply pipelines had been laid underground,the team members dug through the ground to physically check the quality of the materials used.

The WB’s latest review report of the implementation of the project has patted the government on the back for meeting its implementation targets. While the state has achieved 124 per cent coverage under the new water supply schemes,another 98 per cent coverage has been achieved in sewer schemes and 154 per cent coverage in performance improvement scheme.

Till May this year,while there was very little progress made in the new water supply schemes the sewer schemes as also the performance improvement schemes were not implemented at all since 2006,reads the WB review report.

While the project is on track and likley to end several montsh before its target date of December 2014,no action has been taken by the government against its officer who stalled the project.

Encouraged by the WB’s review report we are now planning to formulate another project for the WB. The chief minister has asked the WB to fund water supply schemes in areas damaged by floods and also chip in for technical support to clean village ponds.