Anantapur: As the state government had not allotted funds towards the controversial Paritala Ravindra Perur branch canal in the recent budget, the Rapthadu MLA T. Prakash Reddy has sought action against the contractors who got the job on nomination basis during TD regime.
Mr Reddy raised the issue in the Assembly during the question hour on Wednesday and alleged that the Telugu Desam government had handed over the contract to party men. Excess rates were quoted as against actual cost, he said.
“More than Rs 150 crore. worth of contracts were handed over to TD contractors on nomination basis and this turned out as a financial source for TD leaders in Anantapur,” the MLA observed.
PRP canal, which has been controversial ever since it was proposed and got sanctioned during TD government, is now being reviewed by the YSRC. A change of name is also being considered, sources said. The TD had cleared the line for the canal as a subsidiary project of HNSS canal to fill the interior Perur based on a representation made by the then minister Sunitha. Despite objections by irrigation experts and also YSRC from Rapthadu about wastage of funds being spent towards a separate canal instead of diverting water from the short distance at Nagalamadaka, the TD government cleared the project and also named it after Paritala Ravindra. The revised proposals to fill Peruru reservoir triggered criticism from irrigation experts.
The Jalasadhana Samithi of YSRC, Rythu Sangham, OPDR and other organisations had objected to the plan of spending huge money to irrigate only 5303 acres under the Peruru project for the sanctioned Rs 850 cr. though it had an alternative way to divert water by spending just Rs 90 cr. The samithi had found fault with the government and had said that at least Rs 16 lakh would be spent on each acre under Peruru reservoir which was done with vested interests to benefit the TD cadres.
The Peruru Reservoir has a total ayacut of 10000 acres. 4750 acres would get irrigated through Handri Neeva Sujala Shravanthi Main canal but only 5303 acres needed to get water from an alternative source. Water could have been diverted through Madakasira Branch Canal at the 26th milestone near Turakalapatnam with less expenditure. Further a new lift near 12th milestone of Perur Branch Canal could meet the needs, sources said.
MLA Prakash Reddy has sought action against the contractors of the project.
