Deccan Chronicle: Chennai: Sunday, May 26, 2013.
A former
engineer of Chennai Metro Water (CMWSSB) has petitioned chief minister
Jayalalithaa levelling serious allegations against a few metro engineers
involved in the implementation of 100mld Nemmeli desalination plant.
C.R. Rajan,
former president of TN Engineers Federation, claimed that there were major
deviations in the design, particularly in laying the intake pipeline in the
sea, resulting in loss to the tune of Rs 4 crore to CMWSSB.
In his
memorandum comprising copies of correspondence between CMWSSB, contractor M/s V
A Tech Wabag and technical consultants, which, he obtained through RTI
petition, Rajan alleged that an additional Rs 4 crore was paid to the
contractor for blasting hard rock underwater for laying intake pipeline
though the pipes were laid at a depth of 8meters, against the stipulated
14meters, even without blasting the hard rock on the seabed.
Faulting
engineers for not fixing the intake filter traveling point screen, which
prevents entry of fish in to the inlet pipe, the engineer said the intake well
turns slushy frequently, affecting production. Dismissing the allegations as
‘motivated’, senior metro officials preferring anonymity clarified that the
design and terms of reference clearly state that the intake pipeline should be
10meters below the water level in the sea and 5 meters at the intake well
and it was not mandatory to bury the pipelines at 16meter depth.
Some works
were pending and only 70mld was being produced as on date, the officials
conceded elaborating that the contractor had sought time till June-end to
complete all the works and subsequently do the performance guarantee test
before going full steam from early June. Of the total Rs 533 crore,
including the Rs 429 crore incurred for machinery and supplies, CMWSSB has
only paid Rs 351 crore and the rest would be paid only after the PG test proves
satisfactory and the plant runs to its full capacity.
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