GULBARGA: The State Government has decided to introduce a new system of third party inspection, by an independent agency, of works executed in all irrigation projects to ensure quality. Payments of bills to contractors for works executed will be based on the report submitted by the third party. Announcing this at the review of the status of long-pending irrigation projects in Gulbarga district at the Deputy Commissioner's meeting hall here on Monday, Minister for Water Resources K.S. Eshwarappa said the decision of the Government to introduce the new system was owing to complaints about the quality of works executed in irrigation projects. Mr. Eshwarappa said works up to Rs. 2 crore would be subjected to inspection by a third party comprising experts . He said unless there was satisfaction about the quality of the works executed not a single rupee would be paid to the contractor who executed the work. He said most of the medium and major irrigation projects in Gulbarga district in the Krishna basin had been delayed and their estimates had escalated owing to several reasons . Chief Engineer of the Gulbarga Irrigation Zone Rudraiah said that under the Scheme A of the Bachawat Award, the Lower Bhima projects were allocated 44.85 tmcft of water and of this nine projects were taken up in Gulbarga district utilising 22.08 tmcft of water.

Of the nine projects, the Upper Mullamari, Chandrampalli, Hattikuni and Soudagar irrigation projects had been completed and the Bennethora Major Irrigation Project, which was inaugurated by the Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, would be completed by January 31.

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