Thiruvananthapuram: With two months left for AMRUT project period to end, city corporation is going ahead with four sewerage works for which excess tender was quoted.
The state high-powered steering committee (SHPSC), which had approved tender excess for the works considering technical difficulties, assessed the progress of implementation of decisions regarding the works in the latest meeting held in December. The corporation has executed agreement for the work with the contractor for the project that will provide new network in the missing areas of core city.
Forty per cent tender excess has been approved for three sub-works. These include providing sewerage facility to eastern side of Amayizhanjan canal between Vanchiyoor junction and Samad Hospital road junction, rehabilitation of sewer line including cleaning and replacing damaged lines at Kaithamukku, Thengappara area and rehabilitation of damaged sewer network at Palkulangara. An excess amount of Rs 20 lakh will be spent on this work.
Based on the SHPSC decision, the corporation also executed work agreement on 27% tender excess for the work that involves laying transmission main and sewer networks in Karamanal collection and conveyance system. The corporation is yet to execute agreement on another work for which 40% tender excess was approved earlier. This includes laying sewer network from Murinjapalam to Kannamoola. The excess amount will be met from the savings in six completed storm-water drainage sub-projects of the work. The administrative sanction was revised from Rs 1.3 crore to Rs 1.64 crore for the work.
Another work has been approved at 45% tender excess. The work involves laying of pipe and construction of new manholes at Chengalloor and Vattavila of Punnakamugal ward.
The high-powered committee approved the tender excess citing that the state faces an acute shortage of experienced contractors in sewerage sector and high risks are involved in executing the work. It was pointed out that although the tender excess is high, the amount involved is comparatively less.
The administrative sanction for sewerage pump house at Edathara was fixed at Rs 5.87 crore and the amount had to be revised later. The contractor had cited that the site for construction was slushy and there was high risk for tilting of the well. Due to slushy soil, there could be possibility of caving in resulting in collapse of nearby structures during dredging. This would necessitate heavy precautionary measures, besides the site is adjacent to Amayizhanjan canal and there will be water throughout the year which will mean that quantity of water which has to be bailed out will be more and the scheduled rate for bailing of water was less compared to the market rate, the contractor cited.