HMDA sits on hard rock scam

HMDA sits on hard rock scam
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Highlights

The Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) has increased hard rock quantity estimates by 1,400 times. This misappropriation came to light after an audit by State Accountant General during the financial year 2014-15. 

Hyderabad: The Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) has increased hard rock quantity estimates by 1,400 times. This misappropriation came to light after an audit by State Accountant General during the financial year 2014-15.

The HMDA has prepared a detail project report (DPR) during financial year 2010-11 in order lay outer ring road from Patancheru to Pedda Amberpet. According to the estimates, the hard rock presence in Patancheru-Pedda Amberpet was mere 370 per cent but eventually increased more than 1400 per cent.

However, the HMDA official replied that DPRs were prepared in a hurried manner for which the state audit general stated that the reply is not tenable and defining the failure of DPR consultants for soil classification and hard rock identification.

According to the audit report, there was an increase in the overall abnormal variations in hard rock (HR) quantities from 370 per cent to more than 1,400 per cent. The cost estimates prepared for roadway excavation in all types of soils of the estimated quantity as 45 per cent soil and 55 per cent ordinary rock.

On a scrutiny of records of four packages in Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA) phase IIB, audit observed that there was an increase over the abnormal variations in hard rock quantities. The report clearly suggested that the abnormal additional quantities over and above 125 per cent of the bill of quantities in hard rock excavation at the time of execution depicts that the DPRs were prepared in a hurried manner and not as per site conditions leading to unrealistic estimates.

However, the HMDA officials in the report claimed that most of the soil was found to be encountered with hard rock leading to increase in hard rock quantities over the bill of quantities (BoQ).

The audit report stated BOQ quantity from Pantancheru to Mallampet was 64,583, Mallampet to Dundigal was 70,316, whereas from Dundigal to Shamirpet HR excavation was 63,834 and HR excavation with controlled blasting was 18,239 and from Ghatkesar to Pedda Amberpet HR excavation is 91,499 and HR excavation with controlled blasting is 26,143.

But the percentage increase over BOQ quantity at Pantancheru to Mallampet was 526, Mallampet to Dundigal 790, Dundigal to Shamirpet 643 (HR), and 933 (HR with controlled blasting) and from Ghatkesar to Pedda Amberpet it is 369 (HR) and 1420 (HR with controlled blasting).

HMDA commissioner T Chiranjeevulu said that the estimations are made generally, but if any hard rock comes we have to make the payment. He said that they have given replies in the audit reports.

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