The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Underground drainage projects to begin in western suburbs soon

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Wednesday, Apr 09, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Underground drainage projects to begin in western suburbs soon

K. Lakshmi

Central Ministry nod for projects in Ambattur and Avadi

— Photo:S.Thanthoni

Work to construct a sewage pumping station at Korattur in progress as part of the underground drainage project at Ambattur on Tuesday.

CHENNAI: Residents of the western suburbs may soon be relieved of long-pending problems pertaining to sewage disposal as the underground drainage projects would get under way in a few months.

While the project at Avadi is in the tendering process, the first phase of the project at Ambattur that faced hiccups owing to some problem with contractors is set to begin, with re-tender being called for in a few days. Both the municipalities in Ambattur and Avadi recently got their respective projects approved by the Central Ministry of Urban Development.

Ambattur municipality got the third phase of the project approved to be executed at a cost of Rs.130.91 crore and the local body at Avadi was sanctioned with the scheme worth Rs.160 crore.

An Ambattur municipal official said the Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee operating under the Ministry of Urban Development approved the project. It would cover the remaining 31 wards, including those at Agraharam and Madanangkuppam, which have not been provided drainage network yet. Of the 50 per cent of the project cost to be obtained as grant, nearly 35 per cent would be sanctioned by the Centre as grant under Jawaharlal Nehru National Renewal Mission.

The municipality and public contribution would meet the remaining cost. The work order is expected to be issued in June, he said.

On the first phase of the project, the official said work had been suspended for several months owing to problems with contractors pertaining to project cost.

Bids would be invited for the re-tender of pending works, once Chennai Metrowater, implementing agency, finalised the schedule of rates in a few days. Work would begin by mid-May.

Nearly 60 per cent of the second phase of the project comprising construction of a pumping station at Korattur and pipeline linking the sewer network of Ambattur with Koyambedu has been completed so far, the official said.

Avadi scheme

About the scheme in Avadi, a municipal official said it would cover areas in 48 wards except those under the control of the Ministry of Defence. Two sewage treatment plants of a total capacity of 40 million litres per day would be constructed at Muthapudupet and Paruthipattu. About 40,000 households would benefit from the project, he said. The execution period of the project is two years. Residents would be required to pay deposits varying from Rs.2,000 to Rs.20,000 depending on the area size for house connection, the official added.

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