Tanks revival works at snail’s pace

Nizamabad: The process to prepare estimates and call for bids for works under Mission Kakatiya is moving at snail’s pace. Minister for Major Irrigation T Harish Rao, during his visit to Nizamabad district recently, directed the officials to complete the entire process by second week of December and call for bid by month-end.

The officials, however, are finding it difficult to complete the process as scheduled because of shortage of staff to work on the project.

The district administration has identified 460 out of total 3,251 tanks to take up work of restoration.

The officials have so far prepared estimates for revival of 257 tanks at a cost of Rs 131.19 crore. Uncertainty prevails over preparation of estimates for remaining 315 tanks by month-end.The officials have, however, carried out surveys in all three divisions –Nizamabad, Bodhan and Kamareddy.

This has left an impression among the people that the district administration has carried out the task by treating all divisions equally. As scheduled, the district administration should ensure that at least 20 per cent tanks are revived in each district by March next year.

Meanwhile, the administration has formed joint teams comprising Revenue and Irrigation Department officials to remove encroachments on tanks.

But the teams seem to be finding difficult to carry out survey on such encroached tanks. There are allegations that a section of Revenue officials are cooperating with the Irrigation Department officers to carry forward the task.

By: Bhupathy ramisetty