T. Harish Rao made it clear that there would be no compromise on quality
Telangana Irrigation minister T. Harish Rao
Hyderabad: Contractors are scrambling to bag Mission Kakatiya projects. The competition is so intense that at some places they are willing to take up works by under-quoting 2 to 25 per cent less than the estimated cost of cleaning the tanks. For example, the estimated cost of cleaning the Channupalla Cheruvu in Nakrekal of Nalgonda district is Rs 58 lakh and the contract was bagged for 2.3 per cent, or Rs 1,21,900 less.
In two other cases in the same district, contractors quoted 17 and 18 per cent less. “There is intense competition for Mission Kakatiya works. This is precisely the reason for quoting less than the estimated cost. Contractors don’t want to sit idle. The difference of the estimated cost and contract cost is being asked to be deposited with the government so that contractors don’t leave the works midway,” Vemula Veeresham, TRS MLA from Nakrekal, told this newspaper.
It is not just in Nalgonda, but similar under-quoting has been reported from many states as well. For a contractor, continuous work is important so that equipment, men and material are not kept idle. There are cases where contractors have bagged works for 25 per cent less than the estimated cost,” said a senior official.
He added, “When a contractor bags works for less than the estimated cost, naturally there are fears on execution and quality. We need to keep a tab on them.”
Out of the 9,577 tanks taken up in the first phase in the state, works related to 3,795 have been grounded, including 95 on Wednesday. Administrative approvals have been sanctioned for 7,621 works and agreements have been signed for 5,070 tanks. Irrigation minister T. Harish Rao, who is monitoring Mission Kakatiya daily, made it clear that there would be no compromise on quality.
( Source : dc correspondent )
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