HC directs for audit of 900-mm pipeline

Lokmat News Network

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:

The Aurangabad Bench of Bombay High Court comprising Justice Ravindra Ghughe and Justice Ashwin Bhobe, during a hearing on Wednesday, ordered a technical audit of the new 900 mm diameter water pipeline work between Jayakwadi and Pharola. The bench also established a committee of two experts for the audit, consisting of Manisha Palande, the Chief Engineer of the Maharashtra Jeevan Pradhikaran (MJP), and a representative from the Government Engineering College (GEC). The committee has been directed to submit the audit report by the next hearing, scheduled for April 4, 2025.

Allegation of Rs 200 crore expenditure

During the hearing, it was brought to the attention by the contractor that while working on the 2500 mm main water pipeline between Jayakwadi and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, the 900 mm water pipeline was repeatedly damaged. The work on the 900 mm pipeline was of poor quality, and the pipeline was not 'encased'. As a result, this pipeline frequently gets uprooted. The repair costs for this pipeline have amounted to approximately Rs 200 crore, which the contractor is made to pay out of his pocket. The delay in the water work was due to the non-availability of the proper 'drawings' of the project, pointed out the senior lawyer R N Dhorde.

MJP’s denial of allegations

In the report by the steering committee appointed by the High Court, it was mentioned that the 900 mm water pipeline had not undergone ‘hydraulic testing’. During the hearing, Deepak Koli, the executive engineer of MJP and the project in-charge, denied the allegations and pointed out that the 900 mm water pipeline had been installed at the correct location. He explained that the pipeline breaks during operations. The repair work of the pipeline that had broken previously in June was also carried out by the same contractor.

Koli said that the 'hydraulic testing' of the water pipeline had been conducted, and the report is available to him. He further clarified that the issues with the pipeline had already been communicated in October. On November 22, 2024, a letter had been sent to Nagpur regarding the matter. Koli also denied the allegation that the work was delayed due to the absence of proper 'drawings'.

The bench has directed that a case be filed against those responsible for vandalizing the contractor GVPR's office and that protection be provided to the contractor's employees.