Excavated portion to the south of Raj Bhawan to remain till early January 2013
High water level cited for suspending work
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 25 2012: The excavation work on the busy Keishampat road near Neityapat Chuthek traffic point off the southern gate of Raj Bhavan would remain there till the first week of January next year notwithstanding all the inconveniences it causes to commuters and vehicular traffic.

Talking to The Sangai Express, PHED Chief Engineer H Sunil appealed to the public to bear the inconveniences caused by the hole which was dug up for laying sewer pipes till January first week.

The department too faces many difficulties in laying underground pipes for the sewerage project in the unplanned but densely populated Imphal city.

Despite the difficulties, the work of laying underground pipes is nearing completion.

What is now left is the portion from the southern gate of Raj Bhavan to Keishampat pump house.

The main hole off the southern gate of Raj Bhavan was dug in June-July to lay underground pipes using trenchless technology.

The dug out portion of the road just to the south of Raj Bhawan

The main hole should be 20 feet deep.

Apart from being rainy season when the excavation was made, water table was found very high leading to excessive effusion of water.

The condition was such that any further digging would make the adjoining road cave in.

Subsequently, digging was stopped and the hole was covered with wooden planks after fencing the area.

Before the work of laying pipes using trenchless technology was started, an agreement was signed with a company.

As per the agreement, pipe laying works should be completed by the month of July.

In case the pipe laying work could not be completed within the stipulated period, 'idle charge' should be paid to the company.

It was to complete the pipe laying within the stipulated period that the main hole off the southern gate of Raj Bhavan was dug out.

As the work of laying primer sewer line around Imphal city is nearing completion, work on laying secondary sewer line would be initiated from next month, said the Chief Engineer.

In connection with the secondary sewer line which would be connected to every household in all the areas covered by the project, worn out lanes and roads where the sewer line would pass through have been identified.

Underground pipes would be laid first along roads and lanes which are in worst shape, he added.

Notably, a target has been already set to complete the sewerage project as well as its treatment plant by March 2013 .