Tamil Nadu - Erode   

Thanks to UGD, Erode roads are full of holes

-PHOTO:M. GOVARTHAN

Bumpy ride: The inordinate delay in the implementation of the underground drainage project in Erode town has put residents into hardships.

ERODE: The snail-paced underground drainage (UGD) programme of Erode Corporation has road infrastructure in most parts of Erode town in shambles.

The State government has allotted over Rs. 200 crore for the project, which covers Erode Corporation and four municipalities – Surampatty, Periyasemur, Veerappan Chatram and Kasipalayam.

The civic administration has divided the project into five packages, beginning its implementation 15 months ago. Works listed in Package I and III were taken up in many areas, but the Corporation could not complete even 15 per cent of the works listed under Package I.

The civic body, however, managed to complete about 60 per cent of the works under Package III.

The implementation of the remaining three packages was yet to commence. The tender award committee was reviewing one package, while the remaining two were yet to be approved by the Corporation Council.

Implementing the packages, the civic body had dug up trenches to lay pipelines in many areas coming under the four municipalities, but failed to close them properly. “Almost all the inner roads in our area remain completely damaged,” T. Selvi, a resident in Surampatty, complains.

The project has provisions to utilise funds for closing the trenches after laying the pipelines and carrying out road repairs. “But the civic body rarely closes the trenches,” residents allege.

“It seems that we have to wait for two more years to have a working underground sewage system. In the meantime, we are left with no option but to travel on severely battered roads,” R. Sudharshan, a senior citizen, says.

When contacted, civic officials said they were taking steps to speed up the implementation of the project, and carry out road repairs properly.

Officials claimed that the shortage of sand, and sharp increase in the prices of construction materials were the primary reasons for the delay in the execution of the project.

“But we are working with the contractors to sort out the issues and complete the project quickly,” a senior official says.

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