BMC to float fresh tenders for Bindu Sagar

BHUBANESWAR: Even as stinking grounds around Bindu Sagar, holy tank near the famous Lingaraj temple, is gradually wearing a new look under the present beautification drive, Bhubaneswar Municipal  Corporation (BMC) has decided to float  fresh tenders for purification of water in the lake. Bindu Sagar is the largest lake in the city and occupies an area of 9,10,000 sq ft. As many as 7,000 temples, including the Lingaraj temple, are in the neighbourhood of the lake. Implemented by the BMC, the Bindu Sagar Lake Renovation Project is being carried out under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). It envisages a holistic development, renovation and beautification of the lake.While the water treatment part is under the National River Conservation Directorate, the embankment beautification is being done under the JNNURM. Sources in the BMC said, a Mumbai-based private organisation was entrusted with the purification process of the lake water. “Works on the project are reviewed on a monthly basis and during tests on the water quality by the government authorities  recently, it was found that the results were below par,” said Mayor Ananta Narayan Jena. He added that tenders will again be floated soon to shortlist three private agencies for the work. He further said that if things go as planned, the ambitious renovation project would be completed by March-end.  Meanwhile, the phase-II works of the project are nearing completion. A Central grant of Rs 72 lakh was exclusively used for beautification and development of the west, north and east banks under the phase-II category, added Jena. “The phase-II grants have  already been utilised and we have informed the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Development authorities to release the remaining funds,” Jena said. For works under the phase-I category of the renovation plan, Rs 1.2 crore was received as Central grant and the State Government and the BMC contributed ` 15 lakh each. The Chief Minister had also sanctioned a matching grant of around Rs 1 crore for phase-II works that include development of temples and mutts in the neighbourhood of the lake.