NAGPUR: Ner-Dhamana
barrage on Purna river in Akola district is crucial for irrigation in this area where saline content in water hampers the soil quality. The project was started in 2009-10 and by 2021, it is expected to irrigate 6,954 hectares under its ambit.
Unlike many other irrigation projects of the region, here the work is on schedule but not free from controversies.
The ACB is investigating over 40 tenders granted for different works by Vidarbha Irrigation Development corporation (VIDC), including one of the tenders related to this project. Offences have been registered in 17 cases.
The main tender granted for the work on the barrage is also under ACB’s scanner. Though no offence has been registered yet, further prosecution can only begin after an offence is registered by the investigating agency.
Officials related to the project said the dam would be ready for storage by June 2019 with irrigation to start by 2021.
The main tender has been granted to a joint venture company (
JVC) between M/s D Thakker Co and M/s SMS Group. The former has been named in many of the FIRs registered by the ACB. Jigar Thakker, one of the director’s in D Thakker Co, committed suicide in March this year. SMS Group is managed by the Sancheti Family; one of the brothers, Ajay Sancheti, is Rajya Sabha member from BJP.
Jan Manch, the NGO which had filed a PIL seeking ACB inquiry into the state’s irrigation tenders, had also filed a complaint against major cost escalation in the project on account of change in design. The complaint was that the design was changed after the tender was awarded benefiting the contractor.
TOI had reported the matter in 2012. Initially, the dam’s cost was pegged at Rs181 crore. However, as the saline belt has a typical strata which is not strong enough to hold structures like a barrage, the design was changed.
VIDC got a new design prepared from New Delhi-based PSU Water and Power Consultancy Services Limited (WAPCOS). It took the estimate to Rs638 crore. This raised eyebrows and it was pointed out that the tenders should have been awarded after the design was finalized.
A source in Jan Manch said despite the complaint, no action has been taken. A source privy to the developments said the ACB inquiry is covering general issues related to granting of the tender. Since the change in design was approved by the government, there is no question of any inquiry.
When the case was taken up for clearing central aid by the Central Water Commission (CWC) in 2012, it was pointed out that an alternative design involving a lesser cost could have been taken up.
Commenting on the controversies related to irrigation works, Anand Sancheti of SMS Group said, “The morale of the state government officials is rather low these days and any decision involving financial implications is being delayed. The project is crucial for the area. Due to the high saline content, the water flow has to be restricted through a barrage so that it does not affect the soil quality,” he said.
Sancheti said the private contractors have also not received designs for pump house yet. On this, a source said that the designs are yet to be finalized by the central design organization, but it is expected to be done soon.
