Alappuzha: The construction of the Kanakasserry (Kargil jetty) bund, which was breached in the recent floods, is going on at a snail's pace. The breach had damaged over 600 acres of paddy crops and displaced hundreds of people in the hamlet.
The district administration has handed over 20 percent of the total Rs 15 lakh in advance to expedite the work, but piling work is still going on. Neither the representative of padasekhara samithy nor officials were monitoring the quality of work being done by a contractor.
The local residents said that the project was passed by the agriculture department under a 'no-loss, no-profit' scheme. The beneficiaries (padasekhara committee) are the sole responsible agency to get the work done with people's participation. But the padasekhara committee office- bearers have roped in a contractor, Anilkumar, from Chennankary, a faraway place.
Shibu, a resident, whose wife and two graduate children left his submerged house a month ago, said they were waiting for the bund to be finished to resume their family life. He alleged that the padsekharam had given the work to the contractor after securing a commission of Rs 2 lakh from him. He doubted the quality of the work and said, "the contractor is still trying to get coconut tree pieces for piling. The nexus between the padasekhara samithy and the contractor is the reason for the delay," he said.
Most residents do not think that the bund would survive the next monsoon. "Most of the coconut piles have no standard depth needed for a bund," he said.
R. Visakhan, former president, Kainakary panchayat, said 100 families were waiting for the completion of the work. Under the scheme, there is no room for a 'contractor'. "The government has sanctioned the amount after cutting short the amount meant for tendering so that the project gets done on a war-footing. The work should have been given to the beneficiaries (padasekhara committees)," he said.
Contractor Anilkumar told DC that the piling was delayed as suitable coconut pillars were unavailable in the area. "This is the deepest and the most difficult bund to build in the panchayat. The water level in the area is at least 9.5m. Piling has to be done at a depth of three- to-four metres and the bund needs four-layer piling. We hope to finish the work by this week-end," he said.
However, Bahuleyan, president, padasekhara samithy, said all works were being done as per procedures. "We have got Rs 3 lakh from the district administration. Our MLA Thomas Chandy has given us Rs 2 lakh as loan. We will complete the work by Saturday," he said.
He claimed that the name of the contractor was approved by the general body. He has signed an agreement to finish the work with the estimated amount.
