Mangaluru: The much-needed Jalasiri 24x7 drinking water project being implemented in Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) limits has recorded snail's progress, with the contractor Suez India Pvt Ltd laying only 730.2km of the distribution network out of the project target of 1,288.8km.
According to officials of the KUIDFC, the ADB (Asian Development Bank) funded project is being implemented by Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development and Finance Corporation (KUIDFC) at an estimated cost of Rs 792.4 crore (including Rs 204.7 crore for operation and maintenance). The work on only three out of 19 overhead tanks was completed. While the project has a target to install 96,300 multi-jet water meters for houses, the contractor completed only 25,012 installations.
At a special meeting chaired by mayor Manoj Kumar on Monday, corporators cutting across political lines took officials from KUIDFC and the contractor to task for failing to implement the project effectively. Corporators expressed dissatisfaction over the slow progress of the work despite the extension of time (EOT) being given to the contractor twice. Though the project was sanctioned in Dec 2019, the work has not been completed so far, said the corporators.
As per the data furnished by KUIDFC, under the clear water transmission main (CWTM) line, laying of 12.2km out of the targeted 52.5km is pending for completion. KUIDFC officials blamed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for failing to issue clearances for laying the CWTM line and distribution lines that pass along the highway stretches.
Corporator Shwetha A said that corporators, with the support of the people, will have to launch a protest in front of the Jalasiri 24x7 project office if the drinking water crisis is not solved. "We are not demanding water supply on a 24x7 basis. Give us water at least two hours a day," she said. Corporators Naveen D'Souza, Abdul Ravoof, Premanand Shetty, Shashidhar Hegde, Sangeetha Nayak, Shamshad Aboobakkar, and others blamed the KUIDFC and the contractor for the negligence.
Mayor to visit spots
The mayor said that he would visit areas where people are facing issues related to the Jalasiri project. He also stated that zone-wise meetings will be conducted soon to address these concerns. He instructed the KUIDFC officials to respond to all issues raised by the corporators within two days and to submit an action taken report.