| Work Detail |
The committee had recommended to ensure that both the irrigation head works and the hydroelectric project works be given to one contractor
Gopi Dara | TNN | July 28, 2019, 15:23 IST
VIJAYAWADA: Even as the Centre cautioned that review of power purchase agreements (PPAs) would harm the interests of power companies, the expert committee constituted by the state government to review the Polavaram project works has favoured going for single bid for the balance works.
The committee, in its report submitted to the government three days ago, had recommended to the government to ensure that both the irrigation head works and the hydroelectric project works be given to one contractor for better coordination and faster progress of the works.
If the state government accepts the recommendation, fresh tenders will have to be called for.
At present works are allotted to different contractors. The panel wants a single contractor for both power plant and dam for effective coordination and early completion of the ambitious project.
The committee retired engineers-in-chief FCS Peter, ISN Raju, Abdul Basheer, L Narayana Reddy and P Subbaraya Sarma, structural and cost engineering expert P Suryaprakash and APGenco former director Adiseshu, presented a comprehensive report on the Polavaram project, including the Left and Right canals and subsidiary works connected to the project.
While recommending a single contract for the irrigation and hydro projects, the committee suggested that “each component may be financed and supervised by respective departments.”
The panel further suggested that the water resources department may call for the single bid for the works. However, “The work orders may be issued for each component separately by the respective departments,” which may be included in the tender notification, the panel said.
The original contractor, M/s Transstroy, a joint venture, was facing financial constraints and hence “Immediate decision is to be taken to scrap the agreement and go for a fresh bid in a composite manner in order to complete the works in next two years,” the panel said.
The panel added that “The above mentioned lapses are based on primary test check on records produced by the departmental officers. It is therefore recommended that all the works are to be checked in detail with measurement books through special technical audit teams engaging from the irrigation department and access for correct quantities.” |
