Rain relief: Work begins on laying 3-km pipeline

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, February 24

Work on the 3-km rising main (additional pipe for dispose of sewage) from the Power House road to the sullage carrier started from the Power House road traffic light on the GT road near the bus stand here on Monday.

Gujarat-based Shah Consultancy had prepared a detailed project report (DPR) in this regard. The Power House road, Civil Lines and Ajit Road areas will get relief during rain. The cost of the project is Rs 7.63 crore and its completion date is November 28.

In July last year, the Union Government had given its nod to a new sewerage and water supply project worth Rs 48.52 crore under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) scheme for the city.

Under the scheme, a 3-km rising main (additional pipe to be laid to dispose of sewage) will be laid from the Power House road to the sullage carrier to resolve the waterlogging problem in various areas near it.

Residents of the Power House road, Civil Station, Civil Lines and Ajit Road were highly affected due to waterlogging during rain as in the absence of the proper drainage system, city residents have to wade through a mix of sewage and rainwater that accumulates on roads. The rainwater does not subside even hours after rain stops. Even last year, heavy rain had created havoc as it had damaged goods and material worth lakhs of rupees of various residents along Ajit Road. Even the residences of the IGP, Bathinda, and the District & Sessions Judge were submerged in rainwater and they had to shift to other places for a few days.

In order to resolve the issue, the administration has decided to lay the 3-km rising main so that the rainwater is directly disposed into the sullage carrier. Deputy Commissioner B Srinivasan is himself monitoring the project and he would ensure that the work gets completed at the earliest.

MC Commissioner Bikramjit Singh Shergill said, “The work of laying of the pipeline has been initiated and the project will help resolve the problem of waterlogging to some extent as it will double the capacity to dispose the rainwater on Power House road and other nearby areas.”