Hyderabad: A high-powered AP government committee, headed by chief secretary I.Y.R. Krishna Rao, has approved the tender filed by Megha Engineering Infrastructure Ltd, that quoted 21 per cent more than the estimated amount, for the major lift-irrigation scheme at Pattiseema.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, who is very particular about the Pattiseema project, has instructed officials to see ensure the whole scheme is completed within a year to achieve desired results.
Tenders are approved based on the lowest quotation. But MEIL quoted 21 per cent more. The second bidder, Larsen and Toubro, quoted 29 per cent more than the estimated cost of '1,007 crore.
The committee has put a condition that the government will pay the contractor only the work is completed within one year from date of execution. MEIL has agreed to this.
However, it is a challenging task and only 80 per cent work has been completed in the last 10 years. The government also has to divert a huge quantum of water to the Prakasam district Polavaram Right Main Canal that runs for 174 kms from the project to Prakasam Barrage.
AP irrigation principle secretary B. Adityanath Das said pending work will be completed before the scheme materialises.
