AP Govt releases 138 cr for retaining wall

Amaravati: The State government has sanctioned Rs 138.78 crore for the construction of a flood protection wall along the left margin of Krishna River from Ramalingeshwarnagar of Vijayawada city to Yanamalakuduru of Penamaluru mandal. It has enhanced the amount from Rs 93.22 crore, the earlier amount which was agreed. 

The project, which was cleared during the Congress regime, aims in providing protection from inundation of the area along the river bank.  The project was initially estimated at Rs 40 crore and it was increased to Rs 104 crore after the Telugu Desam Party came to power. The government gave technical sanction for works worth Rs 104 crore in 2014.

The work was entrusted to M/s SEW & PMPL joint venture, Hyderabad on June 2, 2015 with an agreement value of Rs 93.22 crore at (-)5.40% less than the other company (ECV) of Rs.98. 54 crore with a stipulated time of two years to complete the works. Till now, the agency completed 40% value of the total works.

However, the Krishna Delta Chief Engineer inspected the site on December 8, 2016 and instructed the officials concerned to execute certain deviations in the works. Later, he submitted revised estimations saying that certain deviations occurred during execution. The State government approved the revised estimates in 2017 and sanctioned the amount.  

The flood protection wall along the left margin of Krishna River along the left margin of Krishna is being constructed to protect people in Ramalingeswaranagar, Krishnalanka in Vijayawada city and Yenamalakuduru of Penamaluru mandal from Krishna River floods.

Speaking to The Hans India here on Monday, Krishna Delta Chief Engineer K Srinivas said that the piles would be substituted by steel casing for the retaining wall as the piles do not fit properly in the sandy soil of River Krishna and it was the reason for increase of estimation. 

However, the opposition parties have alleged that that State government was planning a tourism project in the area and that was why the project plan was altered.