Work on Lower Penganga at a snail’s pace

Jainath (Adilabad): The works of Lower Penganga project, the Telangana government’s prestigious project, has been progressing at a snail’s pace. So far, only 10 per cent of works were completed since it was started in April this year.

The construction of Lower Penganga project was started amid much fanfare after signing an agreement with Maharashtra government.

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Highlights:

• Only 10% works completed in eight months
• Land acquisition for canals yet to be completed

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Telangana government had sanctioned Rs 1,227 crore for the construction of the project and two lift irrigation schemes at Rajampet (Tansi mandal) and Pinpad (Bela mandal).

The project being constructed at Chenaka-Korata would provide irrigation facility to 37,500 acres and lift irrigation schemes would provide irrigation to 13,500 acres in Jainath, Bhela, Tamsi and Talamadugu mandals.

The officials stated of completing the project within 18 months at the time of launching the works, but only 10 per cent of work was completed during the last eight months against the target of completing 40 per cent works.

If the same condition continues, it would take at least three years to complete the project. The contractor, who had bagged works worth Rs 368 crore, has so far completed works worth Rs five crore.

Also the contractor who was given the work on canals and lower project completed works worth Rs five crore till date.

Irrigation officials are pointing fingers at contractors for not expediting the work on the project though they bagged the prestigious contracts worth several hundreds of crores of rupees.

Moreover, the land acquisition for the canals is yet to be completed. The farmers alleged that they were not given compensation for the land that was taken over by the officials.

A farmer, Rajasekhar, alleged that the officials were not responding to their pleas to pay compensation.

The main canal work of Penganga is not yet started as another 500 acres of land is needed. Only 1,200 acres are acquired till date.

The survey work for the field channels is yet to be launched and it is estimated that it would take two more months.

Meanwhile, farmers of Chanda T, Jandapur, Jainath and Bhimpur villages stated that they would not give their lands for the project unless they are paid compensation as per the prevailing market rate.

They expressed ire against the officials for not providing compensation for the land and trees they lost for the project.

The officials have demolished houses in Korata village to make road for the project, by promising two bedroom houses to the villagers.

One of the villagers, Lakshmi said there was no response from the officials to their requests for houses even after explaining their problems without shelter in winter.

Another villager, Gangubai appealed to the government to construct houses immediately.

Chief Engineer of Irrigation department Bhagavanta Rao admitted the delay in the project execution and attributed heavy rains as the cause.

Though the deadline was set at February, 2018, efforts would be made to complete it by February, 2017, he added.

‘We are conducting review meeting in the first week of every month to expedite the work and an action plan would be taken up to that effect,’ he said.

Once the survey is completed, work on the main canal would be taken up, the CE said.

However, the farmers are skeptic about the tall promises. They appealed to the government to initiate action to complete the works in time.