By: Gollapudi Srinivasa Rao
The State Government will soon take a decision on whether to go ahead with the existing contractors or call for fresh tenders to complete the pending irrigation projects, Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Kadiyam Srihari said.
Speaking to newsmen after a review meeting on the Devadula and other projects here on Sunday, Mr. Srihari said that 90 per cent works on the pending projects were complete. The contractors have asked for overheads due to lapse of time. If the Government goes ahead with the demand of contractors, it would cost Rs. 10,000 crore.
If the Government decides to call for fresh tenders for the pending works, it would cost Rs. 20,000 crore. “The Cabinet sub-committee on the projects will soon decide on the issue,” he said.
Mr. Srihari favoured more reservoirs and some alterations to the Devadula Project to benefit farmers and to meet drinking water needs of people of Warangal district.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that the erstwhile Congress Government initiated 25 projects under Jala Yagnam scheme and allocated Rs.28,600 crore. Of it, Rs.21,000 crore was already spent but not even 10 per cent result was yielded.
“Huge sums of money went into the pockets of Congress leaders and contractors. The leaders bothered least for the results and usurped all the public money. Now the present TRS Government is seized with the matter and planning to harvest more benefit,” Mr. Srihari said.
According to him, there were land acquisition problems in ongoing Devadula Project. They were being addressed Meanwhile, plans are afoot to expedite Kanthanapalli project and also to construct a barrage across river Godavari to augment Devadula Project.
Source: The Hindu