Patna: All 75 wards to have submersible pumps

PATNA: The proposal to install borewells (submersible pumps) in all 75 wards and high yield tubewells in 42 wards was approved in the 17th general board meeting of Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) at its Bankipore circle office on Tuesday.
Patna mayor Sita Sahu said borewells and tubewells would be primarily developed in the localities where water pipeline has not reached households yet under the state government’s ‘Har Ghar Nal Ka Jal’ scheme.“High yield tubewells will be developed in 42 wards, including Harnichak, Nepali Nagar, Chainpur, Mithapur, Azad Nagar, Baripath and Nala Road,” she said.
The mayor said the locations were selected for construction high yield tubewells after the survey conducted by the ward councillors in their respective wards while borewells will be constructed as per the requirement.
Amid the hue and cry from ward councillors over various development issues ranging from solid waste disposal to slow progress of government schemes, the board members sanctioned four agendas out of 24.
PMC commissioner Anupam Kumar Suman said an agency would be hired by the civic body to develop a computerised measurement book for payment of bill to contractors or firms for various schemes.
He added, “Through this system, the payment process will become easier. It can be done within 15 days. Most schemes were delayed either due to non-payment or delay in payment to the agencies concerned by the civic body.”
Suman said apart from developing the software, the hired agency will also look after various government schemes in progress in various wards.
The PMC also approved recruitment of data entry operators and accountants for financial management and technical support.
Woman councillor alleges harassment: A woman ward councillor on Tuesday accused Patna mayor Sita Sahu’s son Shishir Kumar of harassing her through his indecent act. A scuffle broke out between two groups of councillors over the issue in course of the board meeting. The woman councillor has threatened to lodge a complaint with police against Shishir if the mayor fails to take action against him. Shishir, however, denied the charges against him.