Date:16/10/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/10/16/stories/2007101651340300.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Irregularities alleged in irrigation project works

Staff Reporter

TDP leader to quit politics if charges proved wrong

Chandramohan Reddy seeks inspection of worksCongress leader threatens to file defamation case

SOMASILA: Telugu Desam Party(TDP) leader and former Minister Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy has alleged ‘large-scale’ irregularities in Somasila-Kandaleru Flood Flow Canal (SKFFC) lining works and asked the government to conduct a thorough inspection of the works, blacklist the contractor and recover money.

The TDP leader, who took a media team along with him as part of the party’s ‘Project Baata’ programme to prove his charges on quality of lining works on Sunday, claimed that he would quit politics and tender unconditional apology to his archrival Sarveypalli MLA and Congress leader Adala Prabhakara Reddy if his allegations were proved baseless.

Taking exception to Mr. Prabhakara Reddy’s claim that neither his company (APR Company Limited) nor he was involved in the SKFFC lining works, the TDP leader claimed that the Sarveypalli MLA had indeed executed the works allocated to KCCL and JCCG companies.

“The finishing is uneven and they have taken up only powder curing and ignored water curing for most of the works. The patchwork, which is taken up to cover patches, has already started peeling off indicating that it is done afresh.”

Defects pointed out

“Moreover, the quality of the mastic pad, which acts as cushion during the concrete expansion, fitted between blocks is substandard and at most of the places only tar was used instead of pads.

He showed to the media team the ‘lining damage’ at 42-km mark and cracks at 41.3-km point.

Later talking to reporters, he pointed out defects at 32.8-km, 33.8-km and 36.3-km points.

He showed damaged parts of the lining work, both on the bunds and at the bottom at different locations.

“The width of the lining should be 125 mm as per the agreement but it is not more than 80 to 90 mm and the lining work was done manually at many places instead of using power machine,” the TDP leader charged.

‘Ulterior motives’

Meanwhile, Mr. Prabhakara Reddy claimed that he had no role in in SKFFC works. “Mr. Somireddy was levelling baseless allegations with ulterior motives and therefore I will soon file a defamation case of Rs. 10 crore against him.”

Telugu Ganga Superintending Engineer (SE) Ravindranath said that contractors would be asked to take up repairs for any faulty works.