Barabati moat renovation work to be restarted

CUTTACK: The Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC), which is facing criticism for delay in renovating the Gadakhai (the moat surrounding the Barabati fort) and developing it into a major tourist destination, is hopeful of restarting work on the project this month. The works were stopped in the later part of 2011 for various reasons.  The ambitious project included cleaning of the moat around the fort, introducing boating facilities and converting the adjoining lands on all sides of the fort area into mini parks with fountains. There are also plans for a musical fountain on the southern side.  The foundation stone for the project was laid on August 31, 2010, by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. Although over a year has passed since then, the CMC has not  completed the clearing of the weeds, excavation and desiltation work of the 2.2 km moat.    The moat has been divided into seven portions for easy implementation of the project. Even though the major portions of the moat are covered with water hyacinths, the CMC is hopeful of at least finishing the desilting and excavation works before this monsoon.  The `17.34 crore project, funded by the Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme for Small and Medium Towns (UIDSSMT), was scheduled to be completed early this year, but looking at the pace of work, its completion this year seems bleak.    The desilting and excavation works in the moat were stopped for several months after last year’s flood and then for four more months from December due to the code of conduct in wake of the panchayat polls. Although desilting and excavation works were done in portions 4, 5 and 6, these are now heavily covered with weeds after the work was stopped last year. Sources in the CMC said as water from the moat could not be drained out regularly, it developed weeds.  However, CMC executive engineer Ashok Parida said 70 per cent of the desilting work in five portions of the moat has been completed. “Work in portion No.1 and 2 is yet to start. After the code of conduct is over on March 20, we will call tenders for works in these two portions,” he said. Parida said utilisation certificate of the work, that has been undertaken in the moat so far, will be submitted by March 31.  This apart, he said, work on the separate drainage channel from the moat, which was under construction, will be completed soon.  The water drainage problem in the moat will be addressed after construction of the channel is completed and the moat on the southern side is linked to the main storm water channel that originates nearby.  Cuttack Mayor Soumendra Ghose said he is hopeful of completion of the project by the year-end. “There are several problems related to this project, including lack of  coordination between various stakeholders and other issues, but we are trying our best to speed up work,” the Mayor said.