WE THE PEOPLE
Despite huge investment, Tral, Rafiabad and Rajpora Lift Schemes have failed to achieve targeted benefits
Hence people demand technical probe to ascertain causes for lapses and suggest measures to make them vibrant
By: M. Shirjeel
Srinagar: It needs to be stated that the construction and maintenance of lift irrigation schemes is vested with the State Irrigation and Flood Control Department. The lift irrigation schemes irrigate 22.83 thousands hectares, which constitutes 7 per cent of cultivable but a review of the lift irrigation schemes in the State has revealed that the schemes had been executed in an unplanned manner and were incomplete for more than 20 years in some cases. Even the irrigation potential created was not fully utilized which has affected the contribution of lift irrigation scheme quite adversely.
It has already been pointed out that delay in release of GOI funds by the Planning/Administrative department has ranged between 30 and 252 days.
Besides four schemes completed at a cost of Rs. 3.86 crore cultivated only 19 per cent of the envisaged area and unplanned execution of works has resulted in unfruitful expenditure of Rs. 4.27 crore. Time overrun on execution of schemes ranged between 1 and 31 years while cost overrun ranged up to Rs. 33.86 crore.
A microscopic examination of the records has revealed that there were 42 schemes under execution during 2003-08 out of which, only 12 were completed during the period. Of the balance 30 schemes, 19 schemes suffered on account of frequent change of design and alignment, execution of works at a slow pace, incorporation of additional items of work not envisaged in the original estimates, non-provision of funds, etc. which has resulted in time and cost overrun in a big way.
It has come to light that time overrun ranged between 1 and 31 years (19 schemes) while cost overrun ranged up to Rs. 33.86 crore. Scrutiny of records has revealed that cost overrun in respect of three medium Schemes namely Tral, Rafiabad, Rajpora was Rs. 92.44 crore and the schemes were under execution for the last 20-26 years. The schemes had not been planned so as to derive optimum benefits out of the funds spent thereon.
The LIS Tral, estimated to cost Rs. 6.13 crore was taken up in 1979 with an envisaged CCA of 4,000 hectares. The project was brought in 2001 under AIBP at a revised cost of Rs. 70.35 crore to create a potential of 6,000 hectares for completion in three stages. The scrutiny has revealed that the Department had not prioritized the works stage-wise to derive benefits under each stage, and embarked upon the execution work in all the stages simultaneously. As a result none of the stages could be completed, thereby denying the benefit, which could have otherwise been derived out of the investment of Rs. 39.82 crore spent on the scheme as of March 2008.
It has further surfaced that in three Mechanical Irrigation Divisions, 59 pumps had to be replaced under the programme for 33 schemes. Out of these, only 54 pumps were replaced at a cost of Rs. 3.42 crore. The irrigation potential has actually decreased by 658 acres during 2007-08 due to lack of coordination within various wings of the Department.
It is startling to learn that instead of replacing the worn out pumps, estimated to cost Rs. One crore, the EE, MID, Akhnoor spent Rs. 3.51 crore on maintenance of these pumps during 2003-08 on LIS Ranjan. Inspite of this, the irrigation potential decreased from 2,000 hectares to 1,600 hectares in this scheme during the period.
Hence people demand technical probe to ascertain causes for lapses and suggest measures to make them vibrant so that the Schemes become productive.
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