Minister to re-inaugurate storm sewer today

The project was inaugurated in 2006 by the then Congress MLA Surinder Dawar. The Rs 95 lakhs project was launched to make the area free of water-logging. But after spending Rs 27 lakhs in 2006,the BJP leaders and councillors stalled the project,saying that the sewer water would fall into and pollute Buddah Nallah.

Gosain,when asked about the re-inauguration,said: “I never stopped the work even earlier,few from my own party with ‘vested’ interests were trying to delay it during our government’s tenure so that I could not take credit for the work. But finally the work will be resumed. Water will fall in Buddha Nallah via the Ganda Nallah. But this is a storm-sewer and only rain water will go in it.”

Earlier the plea was that the storm sewer would contain sewage and pollute Buddha Nallah. But with this proposal,the water will go through Ganda Nallah,which is full of sewage water.

Former Congress MLA,Surinder Dawar said: “I am surprised as to why the project was stopped earlier and now without any change the project will be started again. This shows the double standard of the government. For more than 5 years,Rs 68 lakhs were lying with the sewerage board but they were not being used.”

MONEY WOES

Municipal Corporation Commissioner A K Sinha said that the project cost has been kept at Rs 95 lakhs,out of which Rs 27 lakhs were spent,the remaining Rs 68 lakhs would be used to complete the project. Sources,however,revealed that the project was stalled for 5 years because the designer of the project had drawn Rs 45 lakhs out of the Rs 95 lakhs deposited with the sewerage board. That money has now been taken back by the board after conducting a series of meetings so as to re-start the work.