Nellore: After nearly four years since the start of work on the Anam Sanjiva Reddy Somasila High Level Lift Canal (SHLLC), only 40 percent of the job has been completed. The slow pace of development has disappointed people who have been banking on the scheme in six water-starved mandals en route, namely Ananthasagaram, Marripadu, Vinjamur, Duttalur, Udayagiri and Atmakur.
The Rs 1,532 crore project was proposed to divert five TMC of water from Somasila reservoir to irrigate about 90,000 acres of Ayacut in two phases and to provide drinking water to 58 revenue villages in six mandals.
The government had accorded administrative approval for Rs 1532.19 crore in G.O.Ms.No.120 on December 21, 2013. Execution of the scheme was taken up under EPC turnkey system in Phase-I and Phase-II.
The Phase-I of ASR SHLLC comprises five stages of lift which includes five pumping stations with electro mechanical and hydro mechanical works, gravity canals (six numbers), widening of GKN (Gottipati Kondapa Naidu) canal upo Km.0.465, Pressure mains (five numbers), sumps (three numbers).
This is in addition to four balancing reservoirs proposed at Padamatinaidupalli, Ponguru, Isukapalli and Pegallapadu and to irrigate an ayacut of 43,200 acres at Rs 1080.59 crore.
Tenders were invited under EPC turnkey system and the works of phase-I was entrusted to M/s MEIL-Prasad (JV), Hyderabad. The agreement was concluded for Rs 840.92 crore vide agreement No. 5-SE/2014-2015 dated 07-11-2014.
As of now, Phase-I works of ASR SHLC are taken up to irrigate an ayacut of 43,200 acres. Officials claim that the work completed so far is 47.05 per cent. The expenditure incurred till date is Rs. 395.714 crore.
However, former finance minister and TD in-charge for Atmakur constituency Anam Ramanarayana Reddy expressed dissatisfaction over the slow pace of progress. Incidentally, Reddy, as finance minister, was instrumental in sanctioning the project during Congress regime.
Addressing party men at Atmakur on Friday, he said only 30 per cent of the work was completed while the second balancing reservoir was being constructed without starting work on the first reservoir though it is more than four years since the project was commenced.
He alleged that there is no move to acquire reserve forest land for 1.5 km long canal to supply water to thefirst reservoir yet. Mr Reddy has questioned the rationale behind plans to call tenders for second phase of works even when 70 per cent of first phase works are pending.
