Drinking water supply projects ‘complete’, but pipelines missing
AJMER: Contractors have received payment but the `210crore drinking water supply projects in Masuda and Bhinay blocks of the district remain incomplete, an official letter to the department’s chief engineer has revealed.
Due to scarcity in drinking water in these two blocks, the state public health engineering department (PHED) in 2009 proposed to construct 26 overhead tanks to be connected with Bisalpur water supply system for uninterrupted water supply.
The project after “completion” was handed over to the department in March but when during testing in April, the pipelines linking the overhead water tanks were found missing.
“I am not aware of the issue as I have joined the office recently,” said KD Gupta, the superintendent engineer of PHED projects in Ajmer.
Executive engineer (Beawar range) Sunil Garg confirmed that underground pipelines connecting overhead water tanks in the area (with main Bisalpur water supply line) were missing.
“There was a problem in the project when it was handed over to us. Water could not reach the overhead water tank because of missing pipelines,” said Garg.
“We have completed laying of pipelines for 11 overhead water tanks and work for seven others is in progress,” said Garg.
Sources said SK Jain, the PHED chief engineer arrested by the Anti-Corruption Bureau on Tuesday, had okayed the project before it was handed over to the department.
“He gave his nod over the final completion report and ordered for release of full and final payments to the contractor,” said a source.