Huge Cracks On Polavaram Project Road Rooted In Poor Quality  

Amaravati: With the road to the headworks at the Polavaram project site developing huge cracks, questions have been raised about the quality of the work undertaken there. Experts are of the opinion that contractors flouted regulations openly leading to this situation.

The TDP government has simply ignored CAG observations on irregularities in Polavaram project, analysts have pointed out. The Chandrababu regime also did not bother to pay heed to the CWC team's observations on the poor quality of spillway works. the Central team it may be recalled was headed by Y.K. Sharma.

Back in 2004, the project authority CEO and retired Chief Secretary, Dinesh Kumar had suggested to the government to assign project work to a competent contractor. It also pointed out TDP MP Rayapati Sambasiva Rao-owned Transtroy company which was given Rs. 4054 crore then lacked the wherewithal and the competence to carry out the project. The TDP government however, glossed over these facts, experts say.

The TDP government assigned soil excavation work to Triveni Earth Movers on a nomination basis and customarily, it is the contractor who moves excavated soil from the site and takes up levelling work. Contrary to this established convention, the government bought land at Rs. 32.66 crore for setting up a dumping yard and then gave it to the contractor, they observed. The CAG had faulted this procedure in its report.

Ironically, it was the government which is supposed to protect water bodies, that has been responsible for destruction of water bodies in the region. The area assigned for the dumping yard had water bodies from where water flowed into the Godavari.
Experts point out that the poor quality of the road on which vehicles with loads of a hundred tonnes travelled each day. Water accumulated in the dumping yard, which eventually led to the collapse of the road and the huge fissures in it, analysts remarked.

Also Watch: Road Cracks Open Near Polavaram Site