Bhopal: In a bid to unload its burden and expedite developmental work in the city, the Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) had allocated pipeline and other works to private firms, however, the have failed to get the desired result as the private players are carrying out the work at their own pace and at their own sweet will.
Notably, four firms including SMC, Offshore, Laxmi Civil Engineering Services Limited and GMR are being engaged by the corporation for laying down pipelines in the city. While handing over responsibilities to these firms, BMC officials were of the opinion that it would help in accelerating the work and its completion within the given stipulated time. However their decision boomeranged, and instead the work is being carried at snail’s pace. Delayed in the work on part of these company has led to water supply problems in the city.
Lack of coordination between the civic body and the firms came to fore recently when a scuffle ensued between a corporator and contractor – engaged for laying down pipelines- over the delay. Corporator of ward number 11 Mewalal said that company working in his ward has failed to even maintain proper network of pipeline. A number of incidents of disputes over water supply have been reported in the ward. “We are forced to ply water tankers in the ward owing to delay in laying of the pipeline in the area. I have personally filed so many complaints against the company authorities but to no avail,” said Mewalal.
After digging the roads, the company does not care to repair it causing a lot of inconvenience to the people, he added. Ward no 10 corporator Mahesh Makwana questioned the companies for carrying out the pipe laying work during night time as the possibilities of committing error is greater in absence of proper light “On the top of that they do not ask the concerned officer of the BMC before digging the place. They have dug my ward at several places but did not repair it which led to water logging and other issues,” he rued. He alleged that the consultant company which is responsible for monitoring the coordinated work is also at fault.
An official of SMC Company when contacted claimed that work is underway at a fine pace, however added that sometimes it gets delayed due to certain factors for which they cannot be held responsible. “Sometimes, we find hard rocks, sometimes there are financial issues, at times there are pressures from local public or politicians which causes delay. We can’t pinpoint at any particular cause for the delay, but work is in progress and we will finish the work as soon as possible,” the official said pleading anonymity.
Mayor Alok Sharma when contacted said that we have received information that in few areas the companies have dug the roads but did not complete the restoration work. I have sought the list of these areas from engineers of the BMC. We will send notices to companies in this regard and if they failed to complete the work within given time, we will stop their payment, the Mayor said.
On being asked about company’s allegations about public and local politician’s pressure, Mayor said that there are certain areas where people oppose every developmental work. We will talk to local corporators and will also give police assistance to companies if any such issue arises, he added.
