Delay in canal repair works worries ryots
Three tenders cancelled for the work sought by same contractor
The delay in upgradation works of Visvesvaraya canal of Krishnarajasagar reservoir and other channels of Mandya district that was launched two months ago has caused concern among the farming fraternity as the tender process is still pending.
Raitha Sangha leaders are worried over the chain reaction that would affect the farmers.
The delay in works is delay in completion. Until the works are complete it is not possible to release water to the channels which will surely take a beating on the agricultural activities.
Chief minister Jagadish Shettar had launched the upgradation programme in Mandya on November 23. He had disclosed that the tender process are in the final stages and works would begin in the first week of January. Release of water into the canals were stopped on December 31 to facilitate repair works.
Even after a month, not even the tender process is complete, the farmers claimed. The canals of KRS dam are in a poor condition and the tail-end farmers are not getting water.
Hence, demand for upgradation of canals are in the cards since many years. Finally, the state government had divided the restoration works of the canals in the region into five packages at a cost of Rs 330 crore. There are 1,500 km long canals in the dam limits and after inspection it has been decided to upgrade more than 560 km long canals on priority basis.
Initially it was planned to invite tenders in 11 packages. Later, it was reduced to five citing the delay in works may benefit farmers only after the pre-monsoon season. But
even after these exercises, there are no signs of beginning the work.
Cauvery Neeravari Nigam had invited tenders in five packages and three tenders were cancelled as it was submitted by the same person. Now, tenders are being invited for the second time, clarifies the officials. The time given to the contractors will be six months to complete their work and accordingly the works have to be finished by August second week. The question haunting every body is whether this is possible? The delay has caused anxiety among the farmers as if the upgradation is not completed within the scheduled time it means no water for crops. District-in-charge minister C P Yogeeshwar said he had directed the officials concerned to finish the works on war footing.
Ryots have also submitted a memorandum in this regard.
