Narmada Pipeline Work Damages Telecom, Internet Wires

A private contractor laying Narmada pipeline along Arera Colony has cut off Telecom wires and Internet lines here on Sunday. Pipeline work had ran into hurdles with Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) appointed private agency failing to procure permission from departments involved.

Those residing along Arera Colony E-5 and thousands, who use the road stretch have been at the mercy of the private contractor laying the kilometre long pipeline. It would cut across under the Habibganj RoB and connect the area up to Shahpura. “One track of the roads has been off-limits for vehicular traffic for days. With monsoon likely to arrive soon the dug stretch would become a bigger hindrance,” said Savita Singh, a local resident.

Suresh, who is in his 70s walks his dog along the area every day said, “We have be extra careful while walking across. Much of the debris has worsened the condition of the service lane too,” he said.

BMC officials said that the private contractor had been earlier penalized Rs10 lakh for delay in implementation. Rs5 lakh penalty has once again been levied, after work began with prior permission.

However, workers on the ground using the heavy machinery in the night, indicated that it would take more than a month for the entire stretch of work to be completed.

Sources said that road maintained by public works department was dug out without official permission from the authorities to carry out the work. The work was delayed for more than two weeks as a result.

About 10 feet of the well-maintained road has been dug out for laying of heavy pipeline, which would reduce reliance on Kolar water supply for the area. Narmada pipeline passing through Hoshangabad road would be connected to the new stretch.

Meanwhile, workers from telecom companies were working overtime to restore underground cables, which were damaged from the drilling activity. It is not the first time that the cables were damaged. Similar incident had taken place in the last month, too.―Times of India