Mumbai: A survey contractor, Yash Engineers, wrote to the state government three years ago, suggesting that Rs 1,000 crore could be saved if the alignment of the left bank canal of the Lower Penganga irrigation project in Yavatmal district was altered. The contractor never received a reply from the government.
On Friday, TOI reported how the project cost was increased from Rs 1,402 crore to an astronomical Rs 9,027 crore in August 2009 when a revised administrative approval was given.The approval came from the Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation (VIDC) and the contracts were awarded to politically connected contractors. The project was put on hold in the wake of opposition outcry and remainsso.
The survey contractor followed up the initial submission with a detailed memorandum to the state water resources department in February 2010, where it spoke of faults in the project and suggested ways to save cost .
“We wish to bring to your notice the lacunae and engineering blunders committed by the sanctioning authorities... This has led to a technically imperfect and very costly water conveyance system.” The contractor alleged that during survey, the executive engineer and other departmental officers did not allow it the minimum adequate time for performing “accurate and good quality work”. These officers allegedly pushed the contractor to make haste citing the election code of conduct. Yash Engineers’ memorandum said its alternate plan would reduce the costby about Rs 1,000 crore.
“Even under adverse circumstances, we deputed to the work site our expert surveyors and design engineers and produced technically sound proposals. But they were not considered by the department and they approved their own technical proposals, which are mostimproper,” said the letter.
The surveyor further said the canal crosses thePenganga river at a location where very expensive aqueduct is needed. “The cost of the aqueduct can be reduced from Rs 350 crore to Rs 125 crore by shifting its location from point D to point C,” it said.
Meanwhile, NCP MLC Sandeep Bajoriya on Friday admitted he received Rs 16 crore as advance for the Jigaon, Buldhana and Pedh iirrigation projects in Amravati. He was referring to a TOI report of October 4, which said that dam contractors received Rs 612 crore mobilisation advances from VIDC, defying rules.
Bajoriya said, “This (advance) was against due bank guarantee and with 13% interest levied on it. There is no wrongdoing involved.” He said he had returned the Jigaon project advance last April. “The Pedhi mobilization amount of Rs 7.5 crore given to me is already almost nullified against work done by me.”
COURTECY:
Nauzer K Bharucha TNN
http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIM/2012/10/06&PageLabel=4&EntityId=Ar00404&ViewMode=HTML
On Friday, TOI reported how the project cost was increased from Rs 1,402 crore to an astronomical Rs 9,027 crore in August 2009 when a revised administrative approval was given.The approval came from the Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation (VIDC) and the contracts were awarded to politically connected contractors. The project was put on hold in the wake of opposition outcry and remainsso.
The survey contractor followed up the initial submission with a detailed memorandum to the state water resources department in February 2010, where it spoke of faults in the project and suggested ways to save cost .
“We wish to bring to your notice the lacunae and engineering blunders committed by the sanctioning authorities... This has led to a technically imperfect and very costly water conveyance system.” The contractor alleged that during survey, the executive engineer and other departmental officers did not allow it the minimum adequate time for performing “accurate and good quality work”. These officers allegedly pushed the contractor to make haste citing the election code of conduct. Yash Engineers’ memorandum said its alternate plan would reduce the costby about Rs 1,000 crore.
“Even under adverse circumstances, we deputed to the work site our expert surveyors and design engineers and produced technically sound proposals. But they were not considered by the department and they approved their own technical proposals, which are mostimproper,” said the letter.
The surveyor further said the canal crosses thePenganga river at a location where very expensive aqueduct is needed. “The cost of the aqueduct can be reduced from Rs 350 crore to Rs 125 crore by shifting its location from point D to point C,” it said.
Meanwhile, NCP MLC Sandeep Bajoriya on Friday admitted he received Rs 16 crore as advance for the Jigaon, Buldhana and Pedh iirrigation projects in Amravati. He was referring to a TOI report of October 4, which said that dam contractors received Rs 612 crore mobilisation advances from VIDC, defying rules.
Bajoriya said, “This (advance) was against due bank guarantee and with 13% interest levied on it. There is no wrongdoing involved.” He said he had returned the Jigaon project advance last April. “The Pedhi mobilization amount of Rs 7.5 crore given to me is already almost nullified against work done by me.”
COURTECY:
Nauzer K Bharucha TNN
http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIM/2012/10/06&PageLabel=4&EntityId=Ar00404&ViewMode=HTML
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