Focus will be on pending projects, says Narayana.

Municipal Administration Minister P. Narayana said the State government had obtained necessary permissions, including environment clearances for taking up pending projects in the Penna delta, especially in Nellore district, besides clearing issues pertaining to contractors for completing the projects by this year-end.

Addressing a review meeting recently, Mr. Narayana said Nellore Barrage, Sangam Barrage and Kavali Canal widening works have been pending since few years due to poor monitoring by the previous government. The Nellore Barrage works got delayed as the width was enhanced from 846 metres to 1,095 metres.

The project cost got escalated and the contractors demanded budget revisions. Similarly, the Kavali canal widening and deepening works were also pending.

A meeting was conducted with contractors and all the issues were sorted. A time bound targets have been set for the contractors for completing. All these works would be completed by this year-end to bring in more lands under cultivation and increase productions, he said.

The Minister claimed that forest clearances were obtained for the Telugu Ganga project and the pending bills to the contractors were also cleared.

The project would be completed before October 20 this year, he assured.

'All these projects work costs have escalated by about Rs. 200 crore but they help in brining nearly 3 lakh acres under cultivation,' Mr. Narayana said.


THE HINDU