Srinagar, Dec 22: After missing project completion deadlines in the past, the mega drainage work worth Rs 570 odd million for south City suburb along Hyderpora bypass is again in news for wrong reasons. This time, it is feared that due to allegedly faulty design the drainage network along the right of the highway could fail –leading to waterlogging in the vast residential area.
 Experts say the Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA) should “revamp the project as per the local needs” or else the whopping expenditure would literally go down the drain. But the ERA contests the claims saying the work is being executed as per international standards and there’s nothing to worry about.

THE ISSUE
 The ERA is constructing a 25 kilometer drainage network along the highway area between Rawal Pora and Tengpora.
 As per the project, the network will penetrate a kilometer deep onto both sides of the highway to provide drainage facilities in the residential areas there.
 The ERA officials said the Lateral Drains, the ones coming out from the colonies, will be connected to two deep drains, which will run parallel to the Hyderpora bypass.
 The drain on the right of the highway, known as Main Drain will be connected to the Trunk Drain on the left.
 With the help of pumping stations, the Trunk Drain, will finally drain out the sewage of the two drains into the flood spill channel at Tengpora.

DRAIN OF CONTENTION
 This is where the fears of failure erupt. The experts say the drain on the right should be independent for emptying of the system. They say the sewage should be pumped out straight into the flood spill channel.
 “Connection between the two drains will lead to chocking and ultimately end up in failure of the drainage on the right,” said a retired civil engineer.
 ‘What inspires the ERA project is theoretical aspect, but in actuality such a drainage network is bound to fail in a place like Srinagar,” he added.

LOCALS AGHAST
 The populace living on the right between the Hyderpora square and the Sanat Nagar is aghast pleading that developmental projects have often proved detrimental for the area.
 “The ongoing construction of flyover caused cracks in our houses,” the residents said.
 A development prior to that in late ‘80s, they said, was worst.
 Pertinently the construction of national highway    bypass failed to keep any provision for drainage there. It even disrupted the flow of a centuries old canal thereby furthering the flood threat to the area.
 Since then, the suburb is often submerged in waters during rains while a respite because of the ERA drain looks distant.

‘NOTHING TO WORRY’
 The ERA officials on the other hand said there’s nothing to worry about.
 “This project is not a realization of any hearsay but conceived after through studies and maintenance of international standards,” said GA Ganie, the project Superintending Engineer.
 “Moreover, the project has been approved by the ADB, which funds a project only when it finds that the work will be executed as per international standards,” the official added.
 He said the laying of Main Drain on one side and the Trunk on the other was a standard, vogue globally.
 “Otherwise the construction and recurring costs will go high that the project won’t remain viable for reasons more than one,” he added.

THE DRAIN PLAN
 As per the ongoing work plan, the ERA officials said Lateral Drains would connect to the two deep drains.
 “One has already been constructed (near Jamkash Vehicleads showroom) and the other will be here(near Rahim Motors),” the ERA officials said.
 About the portion of right drain between the Hyderpora square and Sanat Nagar, the work is scheduled to be taken up in April once the work on the deep drains towards the Tengpora exhaust is completed.

BOTTOMLINE
 This means the project completion will take another year and thereby miss another deadline. The “snail’s paced” work on the prestigious project has already brought severe embarrassment for the state government.
 Slated to be completed in 18 months, the work is incomplete even after three years.
 But ERA people say the delay was caused by other government agencies involved in the project who didn’t complete their part of work like shifting of transmission lines in time!

Lastupdate on : Wed, 22 Dec 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 22 Dec 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 23 Dec 2010 00:00:00 IST