NELLORE: Two bridge works on Sarvepalli canal and ghat works, estimated to be around Rs 6 crores, behind ancient Sri Ranganadha Swamy temple in Nellore came to a standstill due to lack of funds and non-payment of outstanding dues to the contractors.
Similarly, several development works proposed for Nellore city, as well as construction of retaining walls for Sarvepalli canal, passing through Nellore city, are either on hold due to paucity of funds or are waiting for the government’s approval.
With respect to retaining walls for Sarvepalli canal, Jaffer Saheb canal and Krishnapatnam canal, within the limits of Nellore corporation, proposals worth Rs 258 crores have been submitted and the approval is pending from the government.
With regard to two bridges on Sarvepalli canal and one more on Ramireddy drain in Lecturers’ colony at Magunta layout, the proposals cameup to contain the growing traffic problems in Nellore city during the previous TD regime.
The works have been taken up at an estimated cost of Rs 10 crores, allotted under the SC sub plan, but the works have been progressing at snail’s pace due to lack of funds.
The bridges have been coming up near millennium substation, near Ramamoorthy Nagar and near Honda showroom on Sarvepalli canal.
In case of ghat works, estimated at Rs 8 crores, at Pennar river behind Sri Ranganadha Swamy temple, works worth `6 crore have been completed but no payment has been made to the contractor since the last four months.
The slab work has been pending but the contractors are wary over continuing the work without receiving funds.
Sources in the irrigation department said that they have submitted various proposals which are essential for Nellore city to irrigation minister Dr P. Anil Kumar Yadav during his recent visit.
The proposals include rejuvenation of Nellore Tank channels within the corporation limits, construction of triple lane bridge across the main canal, near Nellore barrage, extension of Ranganadha Swamy ghat in Pennar river and excavation of leading channel in Nellore tank to divert the flow towards surplus weir at Pottepalem.
The department also proposed the construction of cross regulator-cum-road bridge, across NTS channel, within the corporation limits, besides protection arrangements to Nellore tank bund between the newly constructed ghat at Irukalala Parameswari Amma temple to lower-level sluice.
“The minister reacted positively to the proposals and assured to obtain clearance from the government to execute the works shortly,” a senior official in the irrigation department said.
