'Expert panel will submit report on Krishna delta modernisation works'.

Minister for Irrigation Devineni Umamaheswara Rao recently said an expert committee consisting of retired irrigation engineers will visit areas under Krishna Delta System and submit proposals to complete pending works relating to modernisation of Krishna Delta system. The committee members are Ch. Veeraiah, Rosaiah and Subba Rao.

The Minister said a detailed report on the alleged laxity of contractors would be submitted for further action. Mr. Rao said works to the tune of Rs.1,300 crore were awarded on EPC basis to contractors who flouted all norms in preparing the designs, estimates and in execution of works.

The Minister was speaking at the end of a review meeting held with elected representatives and peasant leaders of four districts of Guntur, Praksam, Krishna and West Godavari.

Earlier, the leaders came down heavily on Irrigation Department for delay and corruption in the works related modernisation of Krishna Delta System (KDS) at the meeting.

The Krishna Delta system was an age old irrigation system in A.P and has an ayacut of 13.08 lakh acres in which Krishna district has 6,79 lakh acres, Guntur (4.99 lakh acres), Prakasam (0.72 lakh acres) and West Godavari (0.58 lakh acres).

The project relating to modernisation of a vast network of irrigation canals and drains in Krishna Delta was conceived in 2007 after a severe cyclonic storm wreaked havoc in Krishna, Guntur and Prakasam districts.

THE HINDU