Kolkata: Infrastructure giant L&T has to complete restoration work of 7th block and rectify defects at its own cost, the one man inquiry commission of Justice (retd) Pinaki Chandra Ghose has said in a report after investigating lapses in the construction of Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla barrages under the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme (KLIS).
L&T is “not entitled to any certificates” and it “must complete restoration of 7th Block and rectify defects at its own cost,” the retired justice mentioned in his report. He also held agencies for Annaram and Sundilla barrages “liable for defect rectification during DLP at their cost.”
All pervasive irregularities
The commission conducted its inquiry for about 15 months and came up with the report in early August. It examined a total of 115 people including engineers and bureaucrats. Justice Ghose investigated allegations of “negligence, irregularities and lacunae in Planning, Designing and Construction” of the Medigadda, Annaram, and Sundilla Barrages of the Kaleshwaram Project. He delved deep into financial irregularities, contract execution and operation and maintenance issues of the project.
The report pointed out procedural and financial irregularities as well as absence of proper planning, design flaws and construction defects. The inquiry commission also highlighted the absence of proper operation and maintenance of the project.
Operation and maintenance neglected
Some of the glaring lapses highlighted by the report included complete absence of operation and maintenance. Justice Ghose observed that there was “absolutely no operation and maintenance of whatsoever nature, including periodical checks/inspections, pre and post monsoon inspections and reports, etc, of these three barrages at ay any time,” the report noted.
Design deficiencies were also pointed out. These barrages were designed on permeable foundations and were used as storage structures. Quality control were also found to be inadequate. “Rampant and brazen procedural and financial irregularities” characterised the project, the report remarked. “The quality control aspects are observed to be inadequate in case of this most important component of these barrage structures (secant piles),” mentioned the report.
Massive cost overrun
The project also suffered from big cost overruns. The project cost was supposed to be Rs 38,500 crore initially but eventually consumed Rs 1,10,248.48 crore — a jump of 186%.
The Kaleshwaram Project was supposed to be a lifeline of the Telangana state. However, it ended up being a colossal drain on the public exchequer. The commission said from planning to technical oversight, financial discipline to operations — nothing was spared of inefficiency and questionable practices. The commission also noted that there were incidences of completion certificates being issued to executing agencies for incomplete work.
According to reports, the commission reportedly found fault with former engineers-in-charge C Muralidhar, B Hari Ram, A Narender Reddy, T Srinivas and Omkar Singh. While Muralidhar and Hari Ram were fond to be suppressing facts about nature of contract, Narender Reddy, T Srinivas and Omkar Singh were held liable for false deposition before the commission. The commission also said that designs were approved without resorting to model studies. The project was marked with poor construction quality and there was no proper vetting of the works by third parties.