Andhra Pradesh: Contractors not liable for failure

Kurnool: Compromising government engineers and pushy contractors are a deadly combo when it comes to building make believe structures that last when there are floods. However, when it comes to irrigation projects, the sky is the limit. 

This is exactly what happened in Srisailam Right Branch Canal breach in Kurnool district that flooded Banaganapalle on Sunday. 

There are several canals like the Telugu Ganga near Chagalamarry, Velugodu (0 to 18 kilometres), Rudravaram (19th block) where unfinished work relating to erosion of the lining of the bunds is still in progress, alleged villagers. 

They say that this is an event that recurs every monsoon causing a threat to lives and damage to property.

Apart from this even KC canal and SRBC canal in Kurnool district are full of faulty, creeky, slushy and rickety irrigation projects that are ready to wobble up and collapse caution engineers.

The contractors who hand over such projects go scot-free without sharing any responsibility for the damage done during the life time of the structure executed by them, because the system permits said a law maker.

A liability clause in tender schedules issued by Government of Andhra Pradesh for canal works state that insurance cover is taken only for two years for original works and one year for maintenance works. 

A breach in canal, like the one witnessed on Sunday in Banaganapalle, with collateral damage to civilian properties is totally uncovered. Chief Engineer Narayana Reddy at Kurnool said that repair to SRBC is complete. But at what cost? 

He said this is how the system works. According to one estimate, it could be a few lakhs to close to half a crore considering the number of workers, machines and man days employed.

Other than this, Telugu Ganga canal near Chagalamarry needs lining as flooding of the area near Pedda Vangali is a recurrent problem. 

Chagalamarry lies about 80-96 km canal length with 31 block to 37 blocks in its jurisdiction. It is said that Telugu Ganga works left uncompleted near Chagalamarry and Chintala cheruvu. One wonders why no one is bothered about its completion, said a retired engineer.