Thotapalli project cost escalates

Srikakulam: The construction cost of Thotapalli project across river Nagavali, which provides irrigation facility for thousands of acres in Laveru and Ranasthalam mandals of Srikakulam district, has gone up due to inordinate delay in its implementation. 

Initially, the project cost was estimated at Rs 450.23 crore in 2003 but it has been enhanced to Rs 1127.58 crore in 2018. In 2003, the then TDP government laid foundation stone for the project, which provides irrigation facility to 1.20 lakh acres in both Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts.

But due to technical faults and delay in land acquisition, the construction cost of project has gone up in the last 15 years. The project works handed over to contracting company under engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) method.

In this method, the contracting company should bear the loss for delay. Interestingly, here the government is coming forward to bear the cost of delay. Land acquisition for canals and sub-minor canals is yet to be completed.

Officials have allegedly been delaying in providing packages to affected families under rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R) for Sunki, Bantuvanivalasa, Gadabavalasa and Gijaba villagers, which will be affected by reservoir waters.

The package is also delayed for partially affected families in Nimmalapadu and Basangi villages. Due to technical faults and delay in land acquisition, the project cost has been enhanced from Rs 450.23 crore to Rs 1127.58 crore in 15 years, said executive engineer of Thotapalli project R Ramachandra Rao.