Massive sewerage project begins for North 24-Parganas

Barrackpore, Feb 14 (UNI) A Rs 45.3 crore project of trans-municipal scheme for sewerage of water began today from Ghola under Panihati municipality with a view to remove a long standing problem of local people facing water logging at Khardah, Panihati, Dum Dum and North Dum Dum in North 24 Parganas.

West Bengal Municipal Affairs minister Ashok Bhattacharya formally inaugurated the project under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission to create an integrated storm drainage network to flush out water during rainy season with the help of a storm water pumping station.

The joint venture project of Central and the state government will be completed by July next year. At least 9.58 lakh inhabitants of nearly 75 sq. kilometer area could get rid of the hazards being faced by them each year. Under the project, a drainage net work covering a length of 45 km will be created, renovated and rehabilitated while re-sectioning and lining of different canals covering nearing 20.5 kilometer will be done, Mr Bhattacharya pointed out.

Addressing a gathering, Mr Bhattacharya said only 35 per cent of the project cost could be drawn from the centre organization, the JNNURM, while state government would bear 65 per cent of the cost amounting to nearly Rs. 30 crore.

He said another Rs.130 crore drinking water project had already been approved of the three municipality areas including Khardah and Panihati. A separate project was undertaken for Barrackpore and North Barrackpore municipalities for same purpose, he said.

State Finance Minister Dr Ashim Dasgupta, who was there, insisted upon his cabinet colleague Mr Bhattacharya to see that the local unemployed youths of the trans-municipal project were provided jobs if there was no technical difficulties.

UNI XC PC RN2245