Work stopped since Jan 2017; official says labourers have left as no wages have been paid
MAPUSA
Financial constraints have brought work on the sewerage project to a complete halt in Mapusa for almost three months now.
Work on the project was stopped since January this year after the government failed to make payment to Simplex Infrastructure Ltd, a sum of about Rs 28 crore.
“For the last one year, we have received just one payment. An amount of Rs 28 crore is pending with the government. We have gathered some resources but that is not enough to procure supplies,” said a senior official of the Simplex.
Lack of funds has led to another spin off with the labour force deserting work and returning to their hometown.
“Most of the labourers left as they failed to receive their wages. But that is a relatively small issue, as they will come back,” the official said.
The Simplex official further informed that the government actually owed it around Rs 54 crore. He said as per the contract, the government holds back 30 percent of the payment which will be paid only after the entire project was completed.
At least 15 percent of sewerage works has remained pending in Mapusa.
Although most of the manholes have been installed around the town, seven more have to be installed on the main road from Hotel Satya Heera to the old municipality.
“The seven manholes can be installed within 10 days once we get clearance from Mapusa Municipal Council and the traffic police,” the company official said.
PWD Superintendent Engineer (sewerage) G M Naik acknowledged that work was stalled due to paucity of funds.
“The new government has promised to release funds for the project. Less than 10 percent work is remaining in Mapusa. The work on sewerage project will resume soon,” Naik said.
Most of the civil work on the Sewerage Treatment Plant at Kamarkhazan has been completed while presently the focus was on installing of the machinery at the plant.
Sources disclosed that work on the STP could be completed in another two to
three months.
