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Madduvalasa canal extension at a snail’s pace
The extension works of Right Main Canal (RMC) of Madduvalasa Reservoir has been delayed considerably during the last nine years in Ponduru mandal in the district. As part of the project, RMC extension works was made for a length of nine km from the existing canal.
Srikakulam: The extension works of Right Main Canal (RMC) of Madduvalasa Reservoir has been delayed considerably during the last nine years in Ponduru mandal in the district. As part of the project, RMC extension works was made for a length of nine km from the existing canal.
The aim of extension was to irrigate 12,500 acres in Ponduru mandal in addition to the existing ayacut 24,700 acres under the RMC Estimations was prepared for the works for Rs 47.69 crore and a contracting company, PJR Constructions was given a sanction order by the State government on 2 March 2009 by setting a dead line for finishing works as 1 March 2011.
The works were not completed as per the agreement period and it was extended for the first time in March 2011. Again, for second time, the agreed period was extended by the government basing on Company’s request in March 2013.
For the third time, the period was extended in March 2015 by extending the time for finishing works by June 2016.But the works are still pending and the deadline set up by the government was not met. Once again, the contracting company made another request for further extension of the period. But the government is yet to give its nod for setting new deadline.
The reasons for not completing RMC extension works for the last nine years are changes of canal alignment at Botlapeta, Vavilapallipeta village in Ponduru mandal to provide benefit to contracting company and a realtor who started a venture here.
Due to the changes, 300 acres of land were not covered under the RMC ayucut in the above mentioned villages and local farmers raised their objections to the works.
The canal alignment had allegedly been altered by the then Superintendent Engineer of Irrigation Department , Venkateswara Rao without getting a consent from the engineer-in-chief (ENC) of the IrrigationDepartment who alone has powers to change the alignments.
As a result, acquisition of 72 acres land has been pending from out of the total required 390 acres of land for RMC extension.
“We have cleared hurdles regarding alignment and acquisition of the remaining 72 acres of land but farmers are demanding high rate of compensation for these lands as per present market situation.
We are discussing it with our higher officials and peoples’ representatives to settle the rate” Madduvalasa Project Executive Engineer (EE), DS Pradeep explained.
