Pulwama: The Deputy Commissioner (DC) Pulwama, Dr. Raghav Langer Friday concluded the three day tour of Tral intended to assess the progress of ongoing civil works on the Tral lift irrigation scheme and to redress public grievances on the spot.
Despite unfavorable weather conditions and snow, the DC along with team walked several miles on foot to visit various habitations of Tral including Shaldraman, Chankitaar, Ponzo, Lurgam, Mandoora, Lurrow Jagir, Shahpora and Shikargah etc. to have an on spot appraisal of various ongoing developmental projects.
During the tour, several delegations met the DC enroute with demands pertaining to Power Dev Dept, Jal Shakti, balance payments under MGNREGA, 14th FC, land compensation related issues, PDS & rationing, PMGSY road projects, Health care etc. The DC accordingly gave necessary directions to all concerned departments for immediate redressal.
Meanwhile the Deputy Commissioner took a detailed review of the various ongoing contracts under the Tral Lift Irrigation Scheme.
An official spokesperson said the Engineers of the Irrigation Civil Division Tral and MICD, Srinagar were reprimanded by the DC for various omissions and commissions on their part.
He also took note of the contractual mismanagement in the execution of the said flagship scheme which is languishing for almost four decades now and assured that the concerned Engineers shall be held accountable before the Government.
It was observed by the DC that timely notices under penalty clauses and liquidated damages have not been issued to the erring contractors leading to huge time and cost overruns. Besides termination of contract, short closure, timely retendering of balance works, blacklisting of defaulting contractors, invoking the debit able agency clause etc has not been done.
The instances were seen where decisions on time extension of contract, justification of delays, decision on force majeure notices have not been taken by the Competent Authority. The DC has given clear cut instructions that the scheme has to be completed before 31st March as already directed by the Govt.
It may be recalled that Tral LIS is a 3-stage lift irrigation scheme conceived in 1979 and projected to irrigate 5000 hectares of area once completed, having revised cost of 170.5 crores. Presently partial mechanical works at stage third pump house in Shikargah along with laying of 60 m rising main is pending.
Similarly on the civil side, laying of approx 1700 mtrs of closed DI pipe channel and excavation cum stone pitching/grouting work in another 500 mtrs open channel is pending.
The DC during the tour was accompanied by ADC Tral, Tehsildar, Xen Irrigation, Xen Jal Shakti and other officials.
