Jamshedpur, Sept. 5: BJP legislator from Jamshedpur (west) Sarayu Roy today served an ultimatum to the state government asking them to start the Mango drinking water project by September 20.

The water project has been hanging in balance for the past three years.

“If the drinking project fails to take off within the stipulated time, we would lay a siege in front of the East Singhbhum district collectorate on September 22.We are not going to tolerate any further delay in such an important project,” said Roy.

According to him, the state finance department has raised objection on the new estimated cost of the project. The cost has now escalated to Rs 60 crore. After the objection from the finance department, the urban development department has returned the project to drinking water and sanitation department (DW&SD) and has asked it to prepare a fresh detailed project report.

After the first tender, the project was awarded to Hyderabad-based IVRCL. But, if a fresh detailed project report is prepared then the previous tender would be consider null and void. The company bagged the tender for Rs 45 crore.

Roy said IVRCL should be awarded the project and added that the cost hike was due to inflation.

“The project was given to IVRCL about four months ago since then the price of steel has escalated by 28 per cent that justifies the new project cost. We demand that the same agency should be given the tender at the re-estimated cost,” said Roy.

BJP legislator said: “The new project report would not help in scaling down the cost of the project. It increased due to inflation and the new report would not help us in any way. The project is already delayed and the state government is wasting more time by calling for fresh reports.”

He also maintained that new report and tender would add to the woes of Mango residents, who are waiting for the project to start that was inaugurated by former chief minister Madhu Koda in February this year. The tender for Mango water project has been cancelled on three occasions previously increasing the project cost from Rs 25 to Rs 60 crore.

The project envisages construction of six water towers and numerous pipelines for water distribution to various localities. The project would cater to 2.5 lakh residents of Mango and its adjoining areas.