Amraiz Khan
The Water an d Sanitation Agency (Wasa) has spoken out against the serious technical anomalies and negligence in the design of drainage and water supply of Firdous Market Underpass project. The Wasa pinpointed the poor planning of LDA, which affecting the installations.
According to details, the Wasa has pointed out several flaws in the drainage design the underpass. The Wasa authorities claimed that it had written an early warning letter to Chief Engineer LDA, pinpointing four shortcomings in the sewerage system at the early stage of the construction of Firdous Market Underpass.
According to the letter, the sewerage line laid for drainage of Firdous Market underpass was not connected to the main line and the new sewerage line was filled with construction debris.
“De-slitting was not carried out, besides the Wasa’s consultation was ignored during construction. Similarly, sewage and water supply connections of houses were broken during the construction side drainage of the underpass”, the officials revealed.
The officials said that H Block C3 Gulberg sewerage could not been built for five months despite its shifting.
According to the letter, Wasa’s main water supply was affected, which resulted in water cut in Model Colony. During the construction of the underpass, the Wasa addressed the grievances of the citizens day and night. The Wasa warned that defects and flaws in current design of the underpass could lead to severe drainage problems in the coming monsoon. On the other hand, LDA has called in tenders for asphalt work outside the basic contract of Firdous Market underpass against the rules and regulations.
Out-of-scope carpeting is being carried out from Center Point to Firdous Market and Hussain Chowk.
The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) has justified the delay in underpass for launching out-of-scope work without a tender. “Out-of-scope work was neither separately tendered nor approved from the competent authority”, an official disclosed while requesting anonymity.
According to sources, the project authorities started covering up the negligence of the project contractor. The contractor did not speed up the work even after receiving more than 60% payment.
Chief Engineer Abdul Razzaq is of the view that out-of-scope work contractor is responsible for the delay.
The contractor, however, passed the buck to the LDA, insisting extra and additional work was assigned to Zoraiz Engineering. In fact, in the sub-contract, work was being done only from AKB.
On the other hand, the Punjab government once again faced humiliation due to poor performance of LDA and Chief Minister Usman Bazdar got angry over the incomplete work of Firdous Market underpass.
Although, the government had decided to inaugurate the underpass, it was postponed, giving another five days fro the work to be completed.
According to details, Chief Minister Sardar Usman Bazdar had expressed anger during the last visit and removed the Chief Engineer from his post.
While giving show cause to DG LDA, November 20 was given as the date for inauguration.
According to sources, the Chief Minister was angry over the incomplete construction work a day before the Chief Minister’s deadline and postponed the invitation for the inauguration on November 20.
Sources said that the Chief Minister was unhappy with the LDA and gave him another five days
Vice Chairman LDA SM Imran said that final warning has been issued to complete the finishing work and further delay is not justified.
The engineering wing will have to complete the project in five more days. Apart from the underpass barrel, the construction of the opening monument including service lane, finishing work, paintwork, transfer of Lesco installations is still incomplete.
