STP in doldrums

Yet another case of a blend of poor planning and mismanagement is that of much talked about the Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP) for the tourist resort of Patnitop. Its fate of seeing the light of completion in next two to three years can only be told by some soothsayer looking to the fact that even after full three years, a paltry 25% work has been executed by the Urban Environmental Engineering Department (UEED) .While extra attention and follow up measures in respect of the STP were expected to be taken by  the concerned departments looking to the importance Patnitop has gained in terms of coming up as a spot of attraction by the tourists , even normal  speed in work execution has remained a dream.
The design and construction of 1.20 million litres per day Sewerage Treatment Plant as also trunk laying, lateral and house connection chambers including maintenance for a period of 24 months on turnkey basis was allotted way back in March 2015 by the Chief Engineer, Urban Environment Engineering Department (UEED). The work was slated to be completed within a period of two years but the actual results on the ground even after three years are disappointing. It is learnt that some unforeseen obstacles are humping the execution work of the plant which speaks about the pathetic level of the planning of the project on the part of the UEED. It is pertinent to mention that the Accountant General (Audit) J&K has also held poor planning by the UEED responsible for the current status of the project.
Dy. Chief Minister Dr. Nirmal Singh under whose administrative control falls the Urban Development Department which technically is supposed to monitor and supervise the Urban Environment Engineering Department looking to the requisite STP should have expectedly taken keen interest in ensuring the completion of the plant in time. However, urgent corrective steps are needed to be taken so that the plant does not become a victim of   administrative and engineering gridlock for indefinite period of time.

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