Tardy progress of NSP Canal works

Khammam: Modernisation works of Nagarjuna Sagar Project (NSP) Canal are making no headway due to callous attitude of irrigation department officials.

As part of the World Bank-sanctioned amount, the Central government released Rs.4444 crore towards taking up modernization of Nagarjuna Sagar left canal works along with the modernization of major canal works at Kusumanchi Mandal in the district. Accordingly, work tenders were finalized package-wise under package number 5. The state government released Rs.39 crore towards the completion of main canal modernization works spreading over a stretch of nearly 57 kms. An additional amount of Rs.2 crore was allocated for the repair works of inflow and outflow sluices of Paler.

Further, the state government had set August 29, 2012, as the deadline to complete the pending works. However, the modernization works involving major canals under Nagarjuna Sagar left canal are still kept pending. In fact, canal modernization works were supposed to be taken up by the contractors in the year 2008 itself. Despite the state government issuing reminders to the contractors several times to this effect, still they did not bother to complete the pending works so far. What is more appalling is that the irrigation authorities themselves admit that not even 50% of works are completed so far even after the contract agreement entered the third season. The irrigation authorities aver that the completed lining works too are short of quality standards.