Debunking the final report submitted by the Mumbai-based consultants, in-charge city engineer K M Parekh claims gravitational pull will carry the sewage along the natural slope.

It took the company more than a year to compile the report. it charged the civic body Rs 45 lakh.

The final report submitted in March had suggested setting up of seven pumping stations in Udhna, Gopalak, Pandesara, Dindoli, Bamroli, Bhestan-1 and Bhestan-2 to carry the sewage to a longer distance, and treatment plants in Bamroli, Dindori and Sonari. The project cost was Rs 103-cr.

To cover about 40 per cent of its population living without drainage facility, the Mumbai-based company was roped in to prepare a master plan.

Based on the interim reportthe civic body had already started construction of a pumping centre at Udhna, about six months ago. But the construction has now been halted and the contractor asked to pack up.

Parekh says that on assuming charge as city engineer he studied the report and being conversant with the geography of the area it struck him that there was simply no need for so many pumping stations and treatment plants. The natural slope along two creeks would ensure that the sewage flows.

The practical alternative saves not only the project cost but also the annual maintenance cost. even by conservative estimates, maintenance would cost the SMC not less than Rs four crore every year, he claims.

Parekh's logic seems to be more of a loose talk not backed up by concrete facts, says a former civic engineer on the condition of anonymityThere is simply no reason why the sewage should go all the way to the treatment plants. The same logic can be applied to pumping stations near creeks with natural slope. Are all those pumpingstations useless, he questions.

But what happens to the company that accepted Rs 45-lakh for submitting a report that would have cost the civic body another Rs 70-cr? Parekh says he will hold talks with the company and explore the possibility of getting the money back.