Deadly drains choke Dal Lake
LAWDA refuses funds to UEED
Arif Shafi Wani

(from greaterkashmir.com)

Srinagar, Nov 10: While Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA) receives crores of rupees for conservation of the Dal lake, it has not provided any funds from last three years to the Urban Environment Engineering Department (UEED), which it has entrusted the job of construction of sewerage system around the lake.

Result: sewage of Dal peripheries will continue to flow into the lake, speeding up its deterioration. Moreover, the messy state of affairs in LAWDA is such that the people at the helm of its affairs did not even consider the recommendations of its own officers for release of funds to UEED.

In early 1990s, UEED was the nodal agency for sewerage and sewage treatment for the lake. It formulated a scheme for sewerage, its treatment and disposal on peripheral area of the lake, which was technically cleared by Ministry of Urban Development at an estimated cost of Rs 84.60 lakhs.

The project, scheduled to be completed by 2001 with funding by LAWDA could not be completed as it did not match project outlays and shortage of funds resulted in time and cost run-over.

In 2000, LAWDA formulated another DPR through Alternative Hydro Energy Centre, University of Roorke titled “ Conservation and Management Plan for Dal-Nagin lake” which was estimated at Rs 269.45 crore.

The project report formulated by UEED in 1994-95 was partly incorporated in the DPR without any provision for lateral sewers and house connections and envisaged break-up of the project in zones.

LAWDA engaged the UEED for construction of sewerage system, including pump stations from Saida Kadal to Abi Nowpora and Dalgate to Nehru Park.

The DPR had earmarked Rs 35 crore for UEED to undertake the task. But till now only eight crore rupees have been released, hampering the completion of sewerage system for arresting the sewage of north side of Dal, sources said. They said the pump stations at Saida Kadal, Naidyar, Gurpora, Daultabad, which are designed to pump the sewerage of the areas to Brari Nambal STP could not be completed as LAWDA did not release funds for it.

Frustrated by non-implementation of works due to lack of funds, the then Chief Engineer UEED had shot a letter (UEED/TS. 5414-18) on November 10, 2005 to Tanveer Jehan, then vice-chairperson LAWDA, threatening to withdraw his department from the project.

“There is no justification for with holding of funds at this stage, besides it is to make it clear that physical targets partly achieved on the ground shall be of no use until whole of the programme is executed in all respects,” the letter said, a copy of which lies with Greater Kashmir.

“The contractors who have executed the works are pressing hard for release of their payments. It may be mentioned that in case LAWDA is not interested to get the works executed through this department any more, then it shall be the right time now to take over all the works execute by this department or proposed to be executed in near future,” it states.

“And in that event the contractors who have already executed the works and whose payments are pending for want of funds, shall be subsequently be directed to approach LAWDA for their claims with regard to payments due to them,” it states.
For some months, the UEED officials had several meetings with LAWDA for release of money but it did not “bear any fruit.” As the civil works for sewer lines and pump stations were schedule to be completed in 2006, the UEED last month again approached LAWDA for funds.

“Since the system (Sewerage) is incomplete as yet and no funds have been provided by LAWDA from 2004 onwards, therefore, no benefits could accrue from the existing works as such. The non-availability of funds had adversely hampered the expected progress in the works in this area,” a senior official of UEED wrote to LAWDA last month.

The official in the letter had expressed strong resentment over LAWDA’s failure to construct a Sewege Treatment Plant (STP) for catering to the sewage to northern side of the Dal. “No action has been initiated by LAWDA till date for most important of the project i.e STP, even the acquisition of the land or the purpose has not been taken in hand which is quite astonishing, keeping in view the importance of the project for the life of the lake” the letter states.

Taking cognizance of the letters of UEED officials, senior officers of LAWDA pleaded their case for release of funds, saying it was mandatory for Dal’s conservation.
“The works are totally suspended for the last more than a year thereby deferring the desired achievements with continued increase in pollution in the lake, which goes against the motives and interests of authority for conservation of lake,” Executive Engineer (LAWDA) Lake division 2nd writes in a letter to his Superintending Engineer in May this year.

“No construction schedules formulated on paper can be implemented unless funds are provided adequately and whole paper exercise shall be futile as has been witnessed during last two years when no funds have been released to UEED and works have come to a grinding halt. Continued suspension of works also makes the previous works executed redundant and susceptible to damages also,” the letter states.

Despite dozens of meetings, communications and recommendations, LAWDA has not released the funds.

“Some officials of LAWDA don’t seem to be interested in the restoration of Dal lake as they are not cooperating with us. We owe Rs 1.11 crore to the contractors who completed the works for intercepting the drainage flowing into the lake,” senior officials of UEED wishing anonymity told Greater Kashmir.

“We have to divert funds meant for drainage system of the Srinagar City and other works, for paying our casual laborers and undertake repairs of our machinery. We see a bleak future for Dal due to non-seriousness of LAWDA for its preservation,” they said.

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