Work to bring 40 MGD potable water to Greater Mohali begins

Besides laying the pipeline,construction of pumping station in Kajauli and subsequent operation of the project,the company will also be responsible for the project’s maintenance for five years after completion and commissioning of the scheme.

Of the total six agencies pre-qualified after pre-bid conference,five firms — M/s SPML Infra Limited,New Delhi; M/s Pratibha Industries,Mumbai; Nagarjun Construction Company,Hyderabad; IVECL Infrastructure and Projects Limited,Hyderabad and M/s Welspun Projects Limited,Vadodra — made the financial bids. However,Larsen and Toubro Limited in Chennai opted out of the bidding process even after being pre-qualified. With the minimum bid,the Vadodra firm was awarded the work through e-tendering.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development had decided that under Phase V and VI of the scheme,only single pipeline of double size/capacity capable of supplying 40 MGD water will be laid,instead of two separate pipelines of 20 MGD capacity each — as were laid in the currently functional four phases.

The department has given its nod to the project in August 2010.

The GMADA will bear the expenditure from funds available under the EDC (External Development Charges) recovered from promoters of mega projects besides GMADA’s own sources. Land required for laying the pipeline is already available.

Meanwhile,a 90-acre site has been earmarked at Jandpur village in Mohali to setting up a water treatment plant and pumping station. Besides the land cost of around Rs 135 crore,the Mohali water treatment plant and pumping station project is expected to cost Rs 60 crore more — the detailed project report of which is being prepared.

“Both the Kajauli and Mohali projects will be completed simultaneously and supply of water will begin by September 2012,” said the GMADA official.