Bihar minister Prem Kumar reviews execution of water pipeline scheme in Gaya

GAYA: Gaya Town MLA and state agriculture minister Prem Kumar on Monday reviewed the execution of Rs 311 crore water supply scheme for providing tap water to the residents of 53 wards of Gaya Municipal Corporation. Funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the contract for the scheme’s execution has been awarded to a Chennai-based firm.
As per the terms of the agreement, 447km water pipeline, 16.54 km transmission line, five overhead service reservoirs and three ground-level service reservoirs have to be made in the city. Besides the above, the agency is also required to renovate seven existing ground-level reservoirs and provide tap water connection to 75,000 households in the town. The scheme, as per the terms of the contract, has to be fully executed before September 2021.
During site inspection, the minister was flooded with complaints about the haphazard implementation of the scheme. As per the complaints, the scheme was being implemented in a piece-meal manner with no time line. The complainants also alleged that the construction company has dug up roads for laying pipeline but has not undertaken the road repair work. As per the contract conditions, the agency has to repair the roads immediately after laying the pipes.
Bihar Urban Infrastructure Development Corporation (BUIDCO) is the nodal agency for the project. According to a press statement issued by Narendra Lohani, OSD to agriculture minister, the minister was informed that so far, tap water under the scheme has been provided to 5500 households against the target of 75,000 households. The minister was also informed that as against the target of 447km-long pipeline, 130 km pipeline has been laid till date.
Prem directed the officials concerned to maintain the time line as well as quality of work and strictly adhere to the specifications. He also directed the officials to seriously address the grievances of the intended beneficiaries.
Asked about the execution of the scheme, Gaya DM Abhishek Singh said the district administration was not involved in the scheme’s execution. However, he would take up the matter with the officials concerned during periodic review meets.