Delay in projects affecting irrigation

NOTE: All the three major projects Lower Indra, Lower Suktel and Indravati are in KBK, this shows how officials are serious towards development of KBK

Expressbuzz, Dec 24, 2010
BHUBANESWAR: Even though the State Government has spent hundreds of crores in the irrigation sector during the last five years for increasing the area under irrigation, delays in completion of the projects have come in the way of achieving the goal. 

The Lower Indra and Lower Suktel projects have come under increased focus because of the discussion on these projects during the winter session of the Assembly which concluded yesterday. The 2009 report of the comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) had pointed out the delays in four irrigation projects which promised to increase the irrigation potential manifold. The CAG observed that the head works of the Lower Indra project were completed with an expenditure of ` 162.05 crore. While 80 per cent of the main canal had been excavated, there was only 15 per cent progress in excavation of branch canal, minor and sub-minors. The report maintained that due to the non-completion of the distribution system, the impounded water in the reservoir could not be utilised resulting in unfruitful expenditure of Rs 162.05 crore. 

There was cost over run in the canal construction of Indravati project because of the delay. The State Government had entrusted the work of planning and designing of the aqueduct of the right extension main canal over the river Sagada to the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur, with payment of ` 4.5 lakh in May, 2005.  But the design received from the IIT in May, 2007 was approved in May, 2008. The CAG observed that due to lapse of three years, the cost of the work increased from ` 13.4 crore to ` 29.42 crore and the project could not be completed on schedule.  The original site of the spillway in the Telengiri project was abandoned after incurring an expenditure of ` 99.2 lakh due to unsuitability of foundation strata, rendering the expenditure wasteful.

According to the CAG, despite an expenditure of ` 90.69 crore by March, 2009, not a single ayacut has been created. The state Government maintained that alternate scope for saddle spillway was examined. But considering the geological investigation data of both the locations, it was decided to construct central spillway, on which the work has already commenced. But ultimately the project was delayed by more than two years.  Subarnarekha project started under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) in 1996-97 for completion by March, 2001, remained incomplete as on date with only 22 per cent physical progress. The CAG maintained that the lining work and failure zones of the main canal were not completed due to defective design and the aqueduct was not constructed due to default in execution by the contractor. So far, ` 973.83 crore has been spent on the project.