Irrigation circle for Srikakulam district remains on paper

Srikakulam: Setting up of separate irrigation circle office for Srikakulam under the control of superintending engineer has been remaining on papers for the past two-and-a-half years.

Right now, all the five divisions of irrigation department are under control of superintending engineer of Bobbili in Vizianagaram district.

Hence, the MLAs of the district had prepared a proposal for separate circle office for Srikakulam and submitted it to the government through Minister for Labour K Atchannaidu.

Subsequently, the government also gave its nod for new circle office by sanctioning Rs 1.86 crore funds through the GO No.106.

Separate irrigation circle office is essential for Srikakulam as the district was dotted with five major, 10 medium and 20 minor irrigation projects.

In addition to it 8,600 major and minor irrigation tanks are situated in the district. Supervision of all these projects are not possible from Bobbili to avoid the inconvenience, the government granted a new circle office. But, it is remaining on papers due to internal politics within the irrigation department.

At present there are five divisions, regular, special investigation, special construction, Thotapalli Barrage project-II, small and minor irrigation.

Out of the five, regular division is dominating other divisions in getting works which is leading to corruption, hence, quality is being hampered. Regular division officials are allegedly exerting pressure on higher officials for delay in formation of new circle as they will lose their domination.

But in-charge superintending engineer of irrigation circle Bobbili B Appala Naidu said that due to non-availability of suitable accommodation new circle is yet to be formed.