Minister for Irrigation T. Harish Rao has directed the project officials to complete all civil, mechanical and electrical works, including erection of flood gates of Mid Manair reservoir, by February 15 and ordered release of ₹65 crore for speeding up rehabilitation of the people displaced by the project.
At a meeting held here on Saturday, he told the officials that Mid Manair is a key component of the Kaleshwaram project as a whole and its completion is important.
The Minister directed action against the mandal-level officials who allegedly issued bogus affidavits on the disbursement of compensation to the displaced people. Asking the officials to physically verify the disbursement of compensation village-wise, he noted that ₹1,200 crore was spent on relief and rehabilitation under the project so far. He also wanted action to be taken on those who resorted to irregularities in preparing the estimates of structures to be submerged in the project.
On the progress of project works, the Minister told the officials to complete fabrication and erection of 25 spillway gates of the projects on a war footing and also speed up earthen bund revetment. Representatives of the work agency explained to the Minister that fabrication of 24 gates was completed so far and the remaining one gate would be fabricated within a week. Mr. Harish Rao directed the revenue officials to release ₹40 crore as compensation for structures and another ₹25 crore for their resettlement and rehabilitation.
Sircilla-Rajanna District Collector Krishna Bhaskar stated that of the 7,419 houses assessed to be submerged in the project, over 3,000 houses were already constructed while another 1,500 are in different stages of completion.
Similarly, the Minister directed the Collector to pay compensation to remaining 260 oustees within a week, after he was informed that money was paid to 7,159 oustees of the 7,419 oustees so far.
He reviewed the payment of compensation to people of Chintal Thana, Kodurupaka, Shabaspally, Kodimunja, Chirlavancha, Anupuram, Arepally, Sankepally, rudravaram, Varadavelly villages to be submerged in the project.
He also wanted the officials to provide basic amenities in all the 13 resettlement colonies on war footing.
Only 50% works of the project taken up in 2006 were completed in 10 years and the remaining 50% were completed in just one year, he said.
