Works of Penna, Sangam barrages at sluggish pace

Nellore: Even though the execution of works of Penna and Sangam barrages in the district has been slow for the last eight years, yet the State government has been kind enough to extend deadlines. 

Though the works had to be completed by March this year, there has been no significant speed in works execution due to various reasons. In case of Penna Barrage, the pace of works has been slow during the last eight years.

Though Ministers assured completion of works by March 2017, still they are in progress indicating that they will not be completed in the near future. In fact, modernisation of anicut was started in 2009 and there was an inordinate delay in execution of works causing serious problems to the farmers in catchment areas. 

The AKR Coastal Joint Venture was awarded works in 2008-09 at a cost of Rs 126.70 crore. The agency had started works in April 2008 and completed 68 per cent. Works were stopped in August 2013 on account of abnormal changes in foundation levels.

The agency had approached the court for payment of pending bills due to changes in foundation works and subsequently the State government had appointed a technical committee for the project report.

The committee had confirmed that the agency had completed works worth Rs 22.50 crore only and submitted a report to the State government recommending payment of bills to the agency. Though they resumed works after the estimates were fairly revised the execution of works never gathered necessary momentum to facilitate completion.

Further, Municipal Administration Minister P Narayana has been repeatedly announcing that they would complete Penna Barrage works by March this year. Now, the deadline is over and the government has to announce another date.

The Minister has already informed that Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu will inaugurate the Penna Barrage as the State government has been keen on completing irrigation projects across the State.

In case of Sangam Barrage, works had to be completed by October last year. Still, RR Infrastructures Private Limited has been continuing works.  According to sources, still there are 70 per cent of works to be completed. Recently, the Chief Minister had announced that he would inspect the progress of pending projects in the State from August. Now, deadline of all the pending projects has been extended till March 2019.