Kozhikode: Nod for CBI probe into sewage plant

KOZHIKODE: The state government has accorded consent to CBI to investigate into the anomalies and alleged corruption in the setting up of a Sewage Treatment Plant at Medical College Hospital, here. The notification for this was issued by the state home department the other day. According to the notification “the CBI can investigate the irregularities in the revamp of the sewage treatment plant at Government Medical College and the matters related thereto”.  

The notification further clarified that the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) had conducted a surprise check to inquire into the irregularities in the revamp of STP at MCH which revealed major irregularities in the work executed by Hindustan Prefab Limited (HPL). Since the HPL is a Central government entity, which does not come under the jurisdiction of VACB, The director, VACB had recommended the state government to refer the matter to CBI.

The plant, set up at a cost of '6.75 crore in 2010 has been only partially commissioned so far as the installation has a capacity to treat only 2 million litre water per day where as the MCH needs a plant of atleast 6 million litre water per day. More over the project also failed to ensure linking the pipeline to drain out water from the treated plant. According to the proposed project, the treated water had to be pumped out into Canoli canal. But the plan was aborted due to public protest over laying the pipeline for carrying the water to the canal through residential areas. The local people demanded to lay the pipeline through Mavoor road.

MCH principal V.R. Rajendran told DC that the project failed to provide the envisaged result even after spending a huge sum of money. “The first phase is yet to be completed”, he said, adding that now the legislative members of the district has consented to mobilize '1 crore for completion of the first phase and municipal corporation will chip in '14 crore for the second phase.

A Pradeep Kumar MLA told DC that the investigation into the whole affair is necessary. “After spending such a huge amount the plant is still not catering to the needs of MCH and we have to chip in another Rs 15 crore for the completion of the entire project”, he added. “Whether there has been any corruption involved at any stage of the project is to be probed and the involvement of the officials of HPL also should be under perusal”, he pointed out.