Corporation seeks additional Rs 27 cr to construct storm water drains

Chennai:

Chennai Corporation has sent in a revised proposal of additional Rs 27.52 crore for the implementation Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) scheme to strengthen minor drains and construct stormwater drains by the Chennai Corporation, according to Chennai Mayor Saidai Duraisami.

Addressing the Corporation council meeting here on Friday, the mayor said that due to the escalation of prices of building materials and inordinate delay by previous DMK regime in implementing the project has resulted in the corporation working out a revised estimate.  “We have sent in the revised proposal to the Union government,” Duraiswami said.

He said an amount of Rs 1,447.91 crore was initially sanctioned by the Union government under the JNNURM Scheme for works taken up by the corporation and the PWD in 2008. He said of the amount Rs 814.88 crore was allocated to Chennai Corporation for laying out 533 km length storm water drain under comprehensive flood management plan.

“The previous regime got the required funds from Dec 2008 to January 2009 but wasted six months to issue a Government Order, the mayor said. Not only that, the contract was awarded to only those contractors who had taken projects above Rs 5 crore. For the next 11 months, the DMK regime spent time on selecting the contractors. After which elections and rains delayed the work for further nine months. In all 26 months of work were wasted due to the delay by DMK regime,” the mayor said.

According to the agreement, the project was to be completed within 24 to 36 months but till 26 months no work was started. This resulted in the rise in prices of building materials and now we have submitted the revised proposal to the Union government, the mayor added.