FGG demands probe into scrapping of three projects

FGG demands probe into scrapping of three projects
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The FGG president said that in case of Pranahita-Chevella project the works were entrusted to WAPCOS in undivided Andhra Pradesh and a detailed survey was conducted.

Hyderabad: Alleging that the engineers, advisors and senior bureaucrats were responsible for cancellation of three irrigation projects, Rajiv Sagar, Indira Sagar and Dummugudem project which resulted in wastage of Rs 14,483 crore, Forum for Good Governance on Tuesday demanded that the government order an inquiry by a retired judge or through an expert team Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, Forum for Good Governance President Justice Reddappa Reddy and secretary Padmanabha Reddy alleged that though Rs 14,483 crores of public money was spent on these irrigation projects water could not be provided to even a single acre of ayacut.

  • A whopping 14,483 cr wasted
  • Not a single acre of ayacut got water

The FGG president said that in case of Pranahita-Chevella project the works were entrusted to WAPCOS in undivided Andhra Pradesh and a detailed survey was conducted. The WAPCOS had submitted its report in 2007 and estimated that the project would cost about Rs 17,875 crore. Before the work could commence, the cost of the project was revised and increased to Rs 38,500 crore.

After bifurcation Telangana government constituted an expert committee with six members consisting of engineer-in-chief, two chief engineers and three divisional engineers and advisors to study the technical feasibility and economic viability and make suitable recommendations to the government. The expert’s team prepared DPR with a project cost of Rs 40,300 crore said Reddappa Reddy.

Padmanabha Reddy said that the experts committee suggested that there would be 160 TMCs of water available at Tummidihatti but after redesigning the project, the officials now say that water may not be available at the same place. “The expert team members have now become seniors in the government and now how can the officials change their stand,” asked Reddy. He said that three projects including Indira Sagar, Rajiv Sagar and Dummugudem were shelved after more than half of the works were completed.

He further alleged that the officials gave Rs 3,600 crore to the contractors in the form of mobilisation advance. “In some cases, the works were not even started,” he alleged. “It is very clear that some officials in the secretariat gave the mobilisation advance to the political leaders and contractors.

They were dancing to the tunes of their political bosses,” said Padmanabha Reddy. The FGG members demanded the government to make the officials accountable for their works and order inquiry with a retired judge or with an expert committee. Reddy said that the FGG would take support of judiciary and also civil society by taking up social audit.

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