Nellore: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy led government’s decision to cancel all the projects sanctioned before April 1 this year by the previous TD government would affect works planned for a host of canals and strengthening of tanks in Nellore district.
Chief Secretary L.V. Subhramanyam had sent a note to all the departments stating that works sanctioned prior to April 1, 2019, but not grounded, were cancelled.
The decision would delay the works of stage II of Somasila high level canal designed to ensure irrigation to water-starved mandals in Udayagiri and Atmakur constituencies.
The progress of the project sanctioned during the Congress regime at the instance of the then finance minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy was already moving at a snail’s pace and the new government’s move would delay the project.
In addition to this, the tender process pertaining to 20 package works worth Rs 50 crore for branch canals under Kavali canal would also be suspended.
Though administrative sanction was given to the works, the tender process was not commenced.
Pointing to the new government’s plan to review all the projects where bills payment was less than 25 percent, sources in the Irrigation department have expressed doubts over the fate of the much publicised Degapudi—Bandepalli link canal in Sarvepalli constituency.
It was a dream project of agriculture minister Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy and he had laid the foundation stone to the link canal at Rajolupadu village in Manubolu mandal of Nellore district in January this year. Once complete, the canal would provide water for 25,000 acres in Manubolu mandal.
However, Sarvepalli legislator and YSRC district convener Kakani Govardhan Reddy had raised a hue and cry over serious irregularities in the Rs 30 crore estimated scheme and dared the minister to prove him wrong. He alleged that the work was allotted on a nomination basis to mega engineering though any work above Rs 10 lakh could not be given on a nomination basis. He added that tenders were floated after he raised objections.
Sources said the works of Dagadarthi—Mungamuru and Dagadarthi—Racharlapadu canals and strengthening of Sarvepalli reservoir would also be halted because bills paid were less than 25 per cent and recommencement of works for such schemes were subject to review.
In addition to this, all the works sanctioned under the Neeru-Chettu scheme also came to a grinding halt in the district as well as in other parts of AP, a senior official in the revenue wing said.
When contacted, Sarvepalli YSRC legislator K. Govardhan Reddy said their government would review all the projects sanctioned prior to April 1 and take up the essential ones and cancel the others.
Reacting to a question on an order to halt projects where payment made to contractors was less than 25 per cent, he said all such schemes were subject to review and they may continue if found necessary.
