Ludhiana: Controversy around the Rs 650 crore Buddah Nallah rejuvenation project does not seem to die down. On Tuesday, several businessmen led by Tarun Jain Bawa, president of Bahadurke Road Textile and Knitwear Association, organised a press conference regarding this project and claimed that some officials were misguiding chief minister Amarinder Singh. Giving reference of a report of an engineering college, they claimed that the estimation of the nullah’s study of flow rate of water had been wrongly projected in the report approved by the government. Bawa once again reiterated his stand that his association could get this project completed at half the cost.
Bawa said that, “Rs 650 crore is going to be spent on the project of rejuvenation of Buddha Nullah undertaken by our CM. It has been observed that there were some ambiguities as well as recklessness on the part of the administration in response to which me and other businessmen have been protesting over a prolonged period of time. On Tuesday, a report, which has been prepared by the Testing and Consultancy Cell of the Guru Nanak Dev Engineering College (GNDEC) on the expenses of manufacturing industry and trade associations, has been brought forward, which brings forth enlightenment on the project and this must be brought to the notice of the people of Ludhiana.”
Bawa added that, “There is a huge difference between reports on the study of flow rate of water prepared by PMIDC (Punjab Municipal Infrastructure Development Company) and testing and consultancy cell of GNDEC. The difference in estimation of the nullah’s study of flow rate of water calculated by both bodies is so immense that the dream project of its rejuvenation of our CM will come under a lot of questions. The report on study of flow rate of water prepared by GNDEC elaborates that the discharge water level of the nullah to be cleaned is approximately 2,000 MLD as compared to the study of flow rate of water report prepared by PMIDC, which is approximately 700 MLD. This explains less compatibility of the project estimation report prepared.”
Bawa further said, “If the rejuvenation project of Buddha Nullah is not carried out without proper surveillance, then the desired results won’t be achieved after such a huge expenditure of public funds. Furthermore, there are huge design flaws in the project regarding pipeline foundation and many more, as proposed by the government recognised bodies. The cost of the rejuvenation project has been estimated at Rs 650 crore and the project tender has been allotted for Rs 519 crore. We have provided a quotation regarding the same tender to the administration at a much lesser price through a private cell of Rs 325 crore.”