Date:08/04/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/04/08/stories/2005040806750400.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Scrutiny of tenders from April 10

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, APRIL 7. The open scrutiny of irrigation tenders by the Opposition will begin on April 10 with the Government today urging various political parties to send their experts for examining details of Thotapalli barrage, the first project to be subjected to such an exercise.

Giving details of the project, the Major Irrigation Minister, Ponnala Lakshmaiah, in a letter to the parties said the answers to the questions raised by the technical experts of the Opposition and other details would be given first on April 10. He said only one certified technical representative from each party should be sent by 2.30 p.m. to the Jubilee Hall for collecting the identity card.

He said the questions on Thotapalli barrage should be sent before 5 pm on April 8 to the Engineer-in-Chief office at Erramanzil. He disclosed that the details of Thotapalli project had already been put up on "www.eprocurement.gov.in" and the particulars of the other projects would also be available on the website. He wanted the opposition parties to send their queries four days ahead of the debate on the other projects.

Stating that the Government had started `Jalayagnam" to solve the agrarian crisis and irrigate fallow lands by diverting river waters which were going waste, he said the aim was develop the backward Telangana, Rayalaseema and coastal areas.

31 more projects

Besides expediting the on-going projects, the Government had decided to take up 31 projects to irrigate 80 lakh acres and also provide drinking water. He said the Government had implemented EPC method which was in vogue in various countries and in different States within the country. The system had the endorsement of the courts too.

The Thotapalli barrage across Nagaavali near Thotapalli in Vizianagaram district impounds 2, 509.13 M.Cft of water to provide irrigation to 1.20 lakh acres and stabilise 0.64 lakh acres of the existing ayacut, besides providing drinking water to 4.72 lakh people in 150 villages. The cost of the project which was Rs.450.23 crores (as per 2000-01 estimates) was updated to Rs.539.94 crores now due to the modifications made to the headworks, canals and distributaries among others.