Nagpur: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday reprimanded civic officials and contractors for the slow, substandard restoration of roads dug up for sewerage works under AMRUT 2.0. He warned that agencies guilty of negligent execution could be barred from further govt work.At a review meeting at Ramgiri, corporators flagged widespread problems caused by the excavation of roads for sewer pipelines and the delay in restoring them. Nominated corporator Ritesh Gawande and senior BJP corporator Dilip Dive briefed Fadnavis on complaints from residents of his assembly constituency.They alleged that the Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s (NMC) public health engineering (PHE) department and its contractors had failed to act on repeated complaints, and they specifically criticised the response of the PHE department, headed by Superintending Engineer Shweta Banerjee. MLA Pravin Datke and Standing Committee chairperson Shivani Dani-Wakhare also highlighted the hardship caused to citizens, particularly during the monsoon.Expressing strong displeasure, Fadnavis directed the departments concerned to follow scientific procedures for backfilling excavated stretches and repairing potholes, particularly on cement roads.He ordered a joint meeting of all departments involved and directed them to frame a comprehensive policy that fixes procedures and responsibilities for road cutting, pipeline laying, backfilling and final restoration. He also stressed the need for better coordination so that roads are not repeatedly dug up or left poorly restored.Fadnavis warned of strict action against officers and contractors responsible for substandard or negligent work.The review also covered the Pora river pollution-control and rejuvenation project. NMC Commissioner Vipin Itankar presented the status of AMRUT 2.0 works, including sewage treatment plants (STPs) and pumping stations. A 35 MLD STP is proposed at Chikhali and a 10 MLD plant at Jaitala, while pumping stations are planned at Chinch Bhavan, Bidipeth and Somalwada. Itankar said the sewer pipeline works under AMRUT 2.0 would be completed by March 2027, and the Chikhali STP by August 2027.Fadnavis also reviewed the Nag River pollution-control and rejuvenation project. He directed NMC officials to survey both banks of the river with the assistance of Tata Consultancy Services and the Centre for Sustainable Development.Additional commissioner Ankit, PWD chief engineer Sambhaji Mane, NMC chief engineer Leena Upadhye, and superintending Engineers Neeta Thakre and Shweta Banerjee were among the officials who attended.
