BHUBANESWAR: The Water Corporation of Odisha (WATCO) functioning under the aegis of Odisha Housing and Urban Development Department, which was formed for providing drinking water and sewerage facilities in the urban areas of the State, has unfortunately become a hotbed of corruption and scams.
Several ambitious projects are lagging behind and thousands of crores of rupees have been embezzled in a criminal conspiracy between the Urban Development Secretary G Mathi Vathnan, WATCO top mandarins and contactors.
Undue favour to contractors
A glaring example which has come light is the ambitious “Improvement of Water Supply to Greater Berhampur” project of WATCO in the Silk City worth Rs 372 crore. The project was planned to supply 125 (million liters day) drinking water to the city, where water scarcity had become a perennial problem for the lakhs of city residents. M/s Larsen and Toubro(L&T) Limited was chosen contractor of the project by the WATCO.
However, the then project in-charge Superintendent Engineer (Design) Pradipta Kumar Swain posted in the office of EIC Public Health, Bhubaneswar bend virtually rule in the book to show undue favour to the contractor L&T Limited due to which an alleged scam of more than Rs 282 crore occurred.
Improper design costs
SE Swain in a bid to provide more pecuniary benefits to the contractor, accepted and agreed with the improper design and subsequent execution of intake well, which is a important component of the source of intake of water of the project. Due to this the quantity of intake of water was reduced to 30MLDs against the designed quantity of 125 MLDs.
As the contract price of the project was Rs 372 crore for supply of 125 MLDs, people get the return of Rs 90 crore only in financial terms for getting 30 MLD water. Thus, the balance amount of Rs 282 crore (372-90 = 282) was misappropriated due to the malice on the part of SE Swain.
Besides, the trenches excavated for the laying of pipes have been filled after laying of pipes with excavated earth with stone pieces of irregular, sharp edges and other objects unsuitable for covering pipes after being laid.
It might be mentioned that for proper compaction sand is used for filling. But the contractor has not used sand for refilling the trenches.
Illegal payment of Rs 13 crore to L&T Ltd
The SE also directed for illegal payment of Rs 13 crore to L&T Ltd for part commissioning of some components of the project’s intake well, water treatment plant, raw water pipeline and clear water pipeline. As per the provision, the money should be paid after completion of the project. Due to the SE’s malafide intent, there was a loss of Rs1.3 crore which would have been accrued as interest to the State exchequer.
Due to the malice of the SE Swain, the life of the project would be shortened and there would be inadequate water supply, thereby defeating the very purpose of the ambitious project, said knowledgeable sources.
Besides , huge irregularity has been detected in the construction of Rs 245crore box drain project in Cuttack for drainage of waste water. The OPWD Code has been violated and the tender has been awarded to L&T Limited at108 per cent excess cost.
It might be mentioned here that when Swain was Executive Engineer of Public Health Division-Ill, Bhubaneswar had alleged allowed use of K7 class DI pipes instead of K9 class DI pipes in the Kalinganagar area in the capital city quite contrary to the agreement provisions and thereby allowing undue favours to contractors. WATCO- a hotbed of corruption.
Drink from tap project failed
In Puri , the drink from tap project is Puri has failed miserably as of late the water kiosks are not functioning and gone dry. A social audit should be done to ascertain whether there is 24x 7 water supply, which is being claimed by the WATCO.
It might be mentioned here that contaminated supply by WATCO has led to outbreak of several waterborne diseases like jaundice in Baleswar, Sundargarh and currently in Sambalpur in which many people have got affected and even lost their lives.
In Bhubaneswar the 24x 7 water supply project is in doldrums as the water supplied to VIP residential quarters, offices, slums and parks is being misused, Besides, there has been irregularities in selection of contractors for executing projects.
OPWD Code violated
53 overhead tanks with a capacity of 5 to 10 million litres t supply water from Mundali and Naraj were newly constructed at a cost of Rs 3.25 crore to 5 crore. The CEO violated the OPWD Code and split the work to favour contractors (agencies) Panda Brothers, Patra Brothers and Jena Brothers to collect bribes worth thousands of crores.