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| Artificial lake's pillar suffers damages again, I&FC Deptt reluctant to fix responsibility | | | Akshay Azad
Early Times Report
Jammu, Aug 8: The pillars of the barrage, constructed over river Tawi for making pondage of much-hyped artificial lake project, have suffered damages again but still the Irrigation and Flood Control department is reluctant to fix responsibility for the alleged laxity.
Heavy rains caused flash floods on Sunday in river Tawi, also posed serious questions over the design, material-used and quality of works done, in the construction of 32 barrage pillars of the artificial lake project. One pillar on extreme left side of Niki Tawi tilted to one side, while a portion of wall-build to save the island was also washed away.
Last year also, one pillar of the barrage had suffered damages but so far no probe has been ordered so far by the Irrigation and Flood Control department, which is monitoring the project being executed by a private contractor.
Initial estimate was Rs 50 crore, and the state Irrigation and Flood Control Department was to complete the project by July 2012. The estimate was revised to Rs 70 crore, and the deadline was extended first to July 2013 and subsequently to December 2013, March 2014, July 2014, 2015 and 2016.
Pleading anonymity a contractor rued that as per the tender notice, the project was to be completed in three years but it has now been five years but still the project was lingering on. "Even the storage of water is yet to start but another pillar suffers damage and it is unfortunate that the department is not fixing the responsibility for such gross irregularities in the construction works", he said.
He further alleged that design and material used in the construction of the pillars and the officials of Irrigation Department were under scanner. "Twice in a row, last year and this year also, pillars suffered damages even when there is no storage of water. If the pillars are failed to resist the floods then how it will respond to the stored water", he said, adding that it was still beyond comprehension as why not action be initiated against those responsible for the irregularities.
An official of Irrigation and Flood Control department said that the design of the project was ill conceived due to which time and again pillars suffered damages.
"The guiding walls on the banks of river are still not in place due to which floods water drain out from some particular area causing damages to pillars", he said, adding that earlier also, the higher officials were apprised about the looming threat to the pillars due to incomplete allied works.
Executive Engineer of Division-I, Anil Sharma said that as per the agreement with the executing company, any damage to the works, was to be borne by them. On being asked about any investigation ordered to fix the responsibility, he replied in negative and said that all damages were to be repaired by the company and they would do it.
Chief Engineer of Irrigation department Jammu, Rajeev Gandotra didn't pick up his phone despite repeated calls. |
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