TIRUPATI: The twin projects of Kumaradhara and Pasupudhara, designed to meet the water scarcity at Tirumala and to augment water supply in tune with the increasing pilgrim flow, are faced with hurdles due to the reported stand off between the Forest Department and the contractor over adhering to environment protection norms.

As a result of this, the execution of the projects, already proceeding at a snail's pace, has further slowed down.

Delaying factors

Objections raised by the Forest Department over the dumping of excavated earth and boulders at a place not approved by it, indiscriminate use of plastic and other such materials at the work site and labour problem have been cited as reasons for the slow progress of the work at the dams situated 15 km deep in the forest off the hill temple.

The slowing down of the work has caused concern to the TTD which is keen on getting the twin-projects completed as early as possible to tide over the water problem on the hills.

It is said that against a requirement of 40 to 45 lakh gallons of water everyday, Tirumala is getting only 30 lakh gallons from all sources put together.

100-crore project

To meet this gap and provide for future requirement, the TTD has taken up the project at an estimated cost of Rs.100 crores.

Objections

Though the Department of Environment and Forest is said to have broadly cleared the project, it is, however, raising objections over the reported violation of the prescribed norms at the project site.

An official who has confirmed the `slowing down' of the pace of work, however, expects it to gather momentum soon as the differences between the Forest Department and the TTD on environmental protection is sorted out following the recent visit of a forest team to the work site.

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