Berhampur: The residents of Berhampur still pin their hopes on the Janibili project that envisages ending the drinking water crisis in the region. However, resentment is growing among locals owing to the slow pace of construction work for which the project has missed its deadline.
Sources said the authorities had targeted to complete the project by November 2018. However, due to tardy pace of construction work which is continuing at a snail’s pace; not only the deadline has been missed, we are also putting up with bad road conditions for a prolonged period. The construction agency has dug up roads to lay pipelines, which is causing problems for people in several localities. Besides, there has been a rise in the number of accidents due to poor road conditions and lack of repairs, informed sources.
“The agency is dumping construction items including pipes and soil on the road. At several areas, roads are not being repaired even after completion of the pipeline work. This is creating problems,” said a local resident.
It is pertinent to mention here that Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik laid the foundation stone for the Janibili project in October 2013. Larsen & Toubro is the executing the project work since 2016.
Official sources said the project includes construction of an intake well, laying of pipelines from Janibili to Berhampur, and a treatment plant at Jagadalpur. The cost of the project is estimated at Rs 488 crore.
Ganjam district collector, Vijay Amrit Kulange informed that the work is going on at a brisk pace and recently the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development department had reviewed the progress of the project.
“The State government has already directed the construction company to complete the project. We are targeting to complete the pending work by February 2019. As it is a big project, people are facing problems due to construction work,” said Kulange.