*Mufti Govt initiates steps to get work re-started
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Aug 21: Shocking it may sound but it is a fact that 34 years is too small a period for completion of a canal in Jammu and Kashmir. The project, which was conceived to boost the agriculture sector by bringing in huge tracts of un-irrigated land under its ambit, has witnessed its cost escalating by whopping 1000% during these years.
Now, the PDP-BJP Government led by Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has initiated steps to get the work on the project of vital importance started so that project becomes a reality and achieve the objective behind its formulation. However, the same depends upon the fulfillment of certain requisite formalities.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that project report for Ans Irrigation Canal in Rajouri district was prepared in 1981 and administrative approval was accorded for an amount of Rs 447 lakh. It was proposed to draw 120 cusecs of water from Ans river (Right Bank) downstream of foot suspension bridge on old Kandi-Budhal Road.
A revised proposal was framed and submitted in 1987 with an estimated cost of Rs 621 lakh and the work was started on main canal and exploratory drifts of tunnel. The drift at exit of tunnel was subjected to acute distress of rocks mass as a result of which exit drifts collapsed and the site was rendered unfit for exit portal. Accordingly, the work had to be abandoned in the month of March 1991.
Thereafter, on the basis of detailed geological mapping a new exit portal site was selected with a bend in the tunnel alignment. Again a project report was prepared with a proposed length of main canal equal to 6933 meter, revised tunnel length equal to 1386 meter and four number distributaries of length 43.12 kilometer. The scheme was accordingly approved for funding under Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP).
However, the fate of the project continued to hang in balance as when the work for construction of main canal and tunnel was put to e-tendering on November 10, 2012, no bidder participated. This led to re-tendering of the work on January 1, 2013. The re-tendering process continued till September 2014 because of one or the other reason.
After hectic persuasion and negotiations, the lowest bidder, who had quoted over Rs 48 crore, agreed to execute the work at a negotiated amount of Rs 43.80 crore, which was found workable and reasonable keeping in view the prevailing rates and cost inflation index. Thereafter, the legal aspects of the bidder (a joint venture between ECI Engineering and Construction Co Ltd and SRM Contractor Private Ltd) were ascertained and finally the matter was placed before the State Level Contract Committee in its meeting held on June 15, 2015.
On completion of rest of the formalities, the Planning and Development Department during current month conveyed in principle agreement for providing Rs 16.82 crore as additionality in three equal installments amounting to Rs 5.61 crore in three consecutive years commencing from 2015-16 for construction of Ans canal.
Now, the State Cabinet, which met today, accorded sanction to the allotment of contract for Engineering, Procurement and Construction of Ans Irrigation Canal Rajouri to M/s ECI-SRM Projects at a negotiated cost of Rs 43.80 crore strictly subject to the conditions imposed by the Planning and Development Department.
However, commencement of work depends on fulfilling of certain conditions like extension of the project by two years by the Union Ministry of Water Resources, formulation of complete Detailed Project Report on the basis of 2012 SOR taking all the components in consideration so that the total quantum of funds required to be provided by the State Government over and above the existing commitment of State share can be worked out.
Moreover, the Irrigation and Flood Control Department would have to get the fresh DPR approved by the competent authority. Even the department would have to ensure lifting and utilization of full Central share before spending the funds provided by the State Government, sources said.
They disclosed that following fulfillment of these conditions, the Phase-I of the project would be completed within a period of three years and thereafter focus would be shifted on Phase-II.
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