HLC works make tardy progress

Major benefit of the modernisation works include an increased intake of inflows from 2,800 cusecs to 4,200 cusecs. It would help in preventing seepage losses up to 10 tmcft of water which is very precious to a district like Anantapur, says HLC superintendent engineer T V Seshagiri Rao

Anantapur: Governments may come and governments may go but Tungabhadra Right High Level Canal (HLC) modernisation works go on forever, is what refers to the HLC canal modernisation project launched in 2008.

Highlights:

• Project launched in 2008 during YS Rajasekhara Reddy tenure still 25% works are pending
• Officials are confident of completing works by 2018

The nearly decade long Rs 450 crore modernisation works launched in 2008 when Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy was the Chief Minister. During the Congress rule, three chief ministers ruled the state but the project was not completed. The project was passed on to the TDP government in 2014 and three years had elapsed and still 25 per cent of the works are still pending.

The authorities say that the modernisation project is likely to be completed by 2018 but as things stand, it appears that the project will be completed only by the next government in 2019, as works are progressing on a snail's pace in several packages. The farmers are apprehensive of the works completion despite the HLC engineers expressing confidence of completing the project by the end of 2018.

The project is aimed at modernising the canal systems through which the allocated water for AP state to the tune of 32.5 tmcft was supposed to traverse a 100 km from Karnataka to reach AP border is now progressing fast due to the resumption of works stopped long ago and due to determined efforts of HLC superintendent engineer T V Seshagiri Rao.

The farmers say that due to lack of proper supervision work quality is also not up to the mark. They maintained that in all the 6 packages, not a single package works completed. The modernisation project involves strengthening of canal bunds and widening them, arresting seepage of water, de-silting of the canal and other related works.

The project involves execution of six packages worth Rs 250 crore. After the TDP government came to power, it decided to go ahead with the modernisation works including canal lining, plugging leakages and strengthening of canal banks. The works which were stopped half way is now restarted due to the old contractors of the project, who left the works half way agreeing to complete the works at the old rates of 2008.

Works are in full swing under the supervision of the HLC Engineering department despite demands cropping up from a section of the ruling party functionaries that the old contracts and contractors should be dispensed with and new tenders should be called for. Irrigation officials see no point in this demand as the old contractors agreed to complete the project at the approved old rates with no scope for cost escalation.

If the old contractors are dispensed with then the project cost would escalate to Rs 1100 crore from Rs 450 crore.Distributary works are on now on progress and 70 percent of lining works were completed. HLC Superintending engineer T V Seshagiri Rao during an interaction with The Hans India stated that 53.53% works were completed and Rs 30 crore works are yet to be completed in the first package.

In package 2, 52.72% works were completed and Rs 37 crore works worth are yet to be completed; In package 3, 46.12% works were completed and a balance of Rs 37.5 crore works are still pending; In package 4, 54.54% works were over and Rs 45 crore works pending; In package 5, 21.62% works were completed Rs 44 crore worth works are to be completed and under package 6, 47.82% works had been completed and Rs 46 crore worth works are to be completed.

In all, Rs 240 crore worth works are now under progress and would be completed by June 2018.Seshagiri Rao said that the major benefit of the modernisation works include an increased intake of inflows from 2,800 cusecs to 4,200 cusecs. The modernisation of the canal would help in preventing seepage losses up to 10 tmcft of water which is very precious to a district like Anantapur.

By Ravi P Benjamin