HYDERABAD: The Government has begun collecting penalty from contractors and companies for the delay in execution of the irrigation projects.

The Government is concerned that the system is not in a position to fulfil the promise made by Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy in the Assembly to provide irrigation to 7.52 lakh acres this khariff. The season came to an end but a major part of this contemplated ayacut has not received water.

To start with, the Government has imposed a penalty of Rs. 35 crores on the contractors of the Devadula Lift Irrigation Scheme for their failure to complete the milestones within the time-schedule and provide irrigation to 50,000 acres as wanted by the Chief Minister.

Farmers disappointed

The milestone could not be achieved even after a six-month extension of the time limit. Sources in the Irrigation Department said water to this extent of crops is not likely to flow from the project before July next.

The much-talked Guthpa project in Nizamabad district failed the Government similarly. While the contractors ought to have facilitated lifting of water from the Godavari by now to serve 38,000 acres during khariff, the task is unaccomplished even after a six-month extension. Farmers who were hoping to get water following the Chief Minister's firm assurance given at a review meeting held at the project site, are crestfallen. The company, however, has offered no resistance to pay the penalty of Rs. 98 lakhs.

Enquiries with the department showed that the delay in achieving the milestones is dogging almost all the projects awarded for execution through the engineering-procurement-construction (EPC) mode.

The delay in case of Pulichintala project, however, is attributed to a dispute between the Government and the contractors over the design and extent of the earthen dam.

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