Officials may complete storm water project by Apr 2014

The Rs 191.62 crore storm water drainage project at Varanasi is expected to be completed by April next, the latest status report on the project shows. The Central Public Health and Environmental Engineering Organisation (CPHEEO) recommended Rs 191.62 crore as the cost of the project for implementation in 28 months (December 2008-March 2011). Although the project was approved in November 2008, it was started in 2010. The main objectives of the project are to provide drainage facility in the city in an effective manner to avoid waterlogging and to recharge the underground water and develop a new drainage system (separate from sewerage system) in integration with the old drainage system in a holistic manner. After the completion of the project, the storm water would be disposed at Asi nullah in city area, Narokhar nallah in trans-Varuna area, Ganga and Varuna. The city development plan of JNNURM states that the city had open drains in various localities. These drains carry waste water and during monsoon, carry both waste water and storm water in the absence of storm water drainage system. Thus, putting more pressure on the sewer network. A number of drains also empty directly into the Ganga and its tributary Varuna. These drains carry grey water discharged from the settlements along the path and are also used as dumps for solid waste.