Andhra Pradesh government fails to fine Krishna delta defaulters

Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh government has failed to penalise contractors who took up the Krishna delta modernisation work for failing to complete it on time. This is despite the deadline to complete the modernisation work ending almost three years ago and only 37 per cent of the work being completed so far.

The irrigation experts’ committee which reviewed the progress of work, also found fault with the contractors, but neither the state irrigation department nor the government has taken any concrete steps to punish the contractors.

The modernisation project was taken up with an outlay of Rs 4,300 crore. The government had set a deadline of 51 months for completion of a majority of the work.

The ultimate aim was to strengthen all canals, locks, bund regulators and all-important works in Krishna delta limits and stabilise the ayacut.

Work on the project began in 2008 and most of the work was allotted to several prominent companies including some which belong to famous politicians.

The experts’ panel of the irrigation department, which reviewed the project, found that only 37 per cent of the work has been completed so for.

The two packages of the important Eluru canal modernisation work were only 13 per cent complete, even though hundreds of villages depend on the canals for their drinking water.

Similarly, work on the Ryves canal is only 23.43 per cent complete, work on Budmeru was 16.77 per cent complete, and below 20 per cent of other work has been completed.

Likewise, several other  important works have been stopped midway, even though farmers of the Krishna delta were not allowed to go in for rabi crop and a crop holiday announced for two successive years. This led to farmers to lose almost Rs 2,000 crore in income.

Krishna delta irrigation department chief engineer V.S. Ramesh Babu said that the experts committee also discussed the delay of works and reasons and is drawing plans how to expedite the project.

However, the question remains why the government has not penalised any contractor for the delay. As per the agreement, the irrigation department can fine the contractors up to 10 per cent of the contract value, said Krishna district irrigation department deputy superintendent engineer D. Ramakrishna.