Modernisation of the irrigation structures in the Krishna Delta for which the State Government has sanctioned Rs 2,180 crore is progressing at a snail’s pace. Another five years is required to complete the modernisation of the delta, if works progress at the current pace.
Some of the contractors, who had taken hefty mobilisation advance, have completed very little work. While the project is scheduled to be completed by this summer-end, there are no takers for several packages to modernise Bandar Canal, East Side channel and its sub channels, Ramarajupalem Canal and Lower Pulleru channel.
Work on 13 packages
The Irrigation Department is trying to call fresh tenders for these packages with new SSR Rates, five years after the project was grounded.
Work is in progress on 13 packages on the Prakasam Barrage and on canals and channels on the irrigation network and on 14 packages on irrigation drains within the jurisdiction of the Vijayawada Irrigation Circle.
According to the progress report, the maximum work completed in a package is just 28 per cent (modernisation of Dosapadu Channel km zero to km 35) and the minimum is as low as six per cent (Eluru canal km 49 to km 65). The average percentage of work done in the different works is less then 20 per cent. No work has been done in Pullava, Pedacommileru, Lavala and Upputeru drain basins.
Officials irked
The total value of works is Rs.1,429.25 crore, but the contractors have executed work only worth Rs 333.51 crore.
While there was a target of completing work worth Rs.350.25 crore during the long closure the contractors could complete work worth only Rs.93.18 crore.
The department officials are particularly irked with a company that belongs to an MP. The company has deliberately not crossed the 10 per cent mark because the government would start recovering the heavy mobilisation advance disbursed to it, they feel.
The 10.5 per cent interest the contractor was due to the government on the Rs 27 crore mobilisation advance was itself over Rs.5 crore, they say.
