BJP national executive member Nagam Janardhan Reddy on Saturday staged a day-long hunger strike at Gudipallygattu near Kalwakurthy lift irrigation scheme in Mahabubnagar district, demanding that the government take up the third lift on the project.
Mr. Reddy recently had announced his plan to go on fast as the third lift of the project was five years behind the schedule. After he made the announcement, Energy Minister C. Laxma Reddy said that works had already begun and the BJP leader was only trying to gain political mileage.
At the hunger strike camp, Mr. Janardhan Reddy charged the government with releasing Rs. 589 crore out of Rs. 631 crore for the project, but there was hardly any work done. He also said 50,000 cu mts of cement concrete should have been laid at the site by now, but it was a paltry 30 cu mts. The contractor dug the surge pool and pump-house without taking up any other constructions. Not even motors were fitted to the lift. The other projects in the district – Nettempad, Koilsagar and Bheema – were fitted with lifts, pumps and motors, but lacked ayacut.
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He charged the contractor with lacking expertise to implement the project. The contractor was selected on the basis of 30 per cent less quotation when the works started in 2003. The main reservoirs of the project were built and five motors of the first lift were fitted, but construction of the second and third lifts fell way behind.