STP in Suratkal serves no purpose

Four wet-wells and a sewage treatment plant (STP) in Mangaluru North constituency, constructed under funds from Asian Development Bank (ADB), have been merely functional without serving the purpose for which they have been built.

Nearly 90 % of the domestic under ground drainage (UGD) lines had not been linked to the wet-wells, sources in Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) said. Under the first phase, UGD network was limited to nine wards.

The UGD in remaining areas including Panambur and Bykampady was being planned in the second phase of ADB project.

Corporator and former Mayor Ganesh Hosabettu said the MCC was now spending crores of rupees on the second phase of ADB project without setting right the blunders in the first phase of the project.

The wet-wells were unscientifically constructed by using black stones, instead of concrete. Untreated water from Madhava Nagara STP is released into a rivulet in Kodippadi, which joins Nandini river in Pavanje.

“A compound interest is being levied on loan amount of Rs 218 crore availed from Asian Development Bank in the first phase, as the interest had not been paid,” Ganesh Hosabettu pointed out and added that the MCC has plans to divert a whopping Rs 53 crore towards the repair of missing links in the first phase of ADB project, which is ridiculous.