Complete Veligonda first tunnel works by October: Collector Pola Bhaskara to contractors

Markapuram: Prakasam District Collector Pola Bhaskara on Thursday directed the contractors of Veligonda project to complete the construction of the first tunnel and other works by October. He said the administration would give necessary permissions to bring labourer from other States to resume works immediately.

Speaking at a review meeting held in Veligonda project guest house in Dornala on Thursday, the Collector asked the contractor to complete the works on a war-footing. The coronavirus and subsequent return of migrant workers to their home States had stalled the works. He instructed the engineers to prepare bills for the work done by the contractors and said the contractors would get permission to bring the workers from other States. As many as 701 metres are yet be dug to complete construction of first tunnel. He asked the officials to start digging from the other side and complete the work by September.

The engineers must complete the lift and lighting works in the Sunkesula dam by September and send proposals to clean the project area. He said an additional surveyor would be allotted to them to complete the land acquisition immediately and ordered the engineers to cancel the works from the contractors who did not complete them in time.

Bhaskara ordered the officials to prepare the oustees' list in the submerging villages with the help of volunteers. He said that the displaced families would get Rs 12.50 lakh as a one-time settlement or Rs 3.99 lakh if they agree to get constructed house at the colony. He ordered the officials to complete the infrastructure works in the rehabilitation colonies at Thokapalli, Goguladinne, Idupuru 1, Idupuru 2, Idupuru 3 and Vemulakota.

Joint Collector J Venkata Murali, Veligonda project land acquisition collector G Gangadhar Goud, deputy collectors Chandraleela, Vijay Kumar, SE Nagesh, EEs Ali, Chinababu, Prabhakar, DRDA AD Elisha, housing PD Sainath, representatives of MEGA Engineering, Srinivasa Constructions, Gayatri Constructions, Saidareddy, Mallikharjuna, Subbarao, RDO M Seshireddy and others also participated in the meeting.