Kolkata, Sep 8: Blaming the erstwhile Left Front for “delay” in executing the ambitious Teesta Barrage Project, the Mamata Banerjee government today said it is committed to the “long-standing” venture's completion as per schedule.
“Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has accorded top priority to this long-pending project which is scheduled to be commissioned by March 2015,” Irrigation Minister Manas Bhunia told reporters at the state secretariat here.
Elaborating its status, he said, “It was declared a national project in 2009 to ensure a smooth flow of fund from the Centre with a share of 90 per cent and 10 per cent by the state government from 2010-2011.
“Delay in acquisition of land by the previous government, disputes on several plots of acquired lands, poor law and order situation and corruption came in the way of its speedy execution,” the minister said.
Bhunia said he had already ordered an inquiry into the loss of equipment and inputs of infrastructure worth Rs 150 crore in 100 acres at Phulbari in north Bengal.
“The previous government also abolished the post of chief engineer (construction), who was to monitor the project.” Bhunia said he has directed the chief engineer (establishment), posted in Kolkata, to shift his office to Siliguri within a week and stay there permanently to monitor the progress of the project.
A high-power committee has also been set up comprising people's representatives like MLAs, MPs and Zilla Sabhadhipatis of the concerned districts in north Bengal to monitor the progress of the project directly, Bhunia said.
The target expenditure for 2011-12 of the project was pegged at Rs 377 crore, of which liability for 2010-11 was Rs 70 crore. “So works of Rs 307 crore will be executed in 2011-12.”
Approved in 1975 by the Planning Commission for a cost of Rs 69.72 crore with a total command area covering 3.03 lakh hectres, the project included two barrages, 110-km main canal and distribution system.
Due to change in command area, canal length and other features and also due to time and cost overrun, the revised estimate of the project was submitted in due course and had been approved by Central Water Commission in January 2009 and subsequently by the Planning Commission in December 2010.
The revised estimate covered the total command area of 3.42 lakh hectres including the districts of Jalpaiguri, Coochbehar, Darjeeling, North Dinajpur, South Dinajpur and Malda with approved cost of Rs 2988.61 crore for the execution of three barrages and 210-km main canal, besides 2280 km distribution channel.
With an expenditure upto March 2010 at Rs 1267.57 crore and liability for the work done in 2010-11 at Rs 70 crore, the remaing work to be executed after March 2011 required Rs 1651.04 crore for its completion by March-2015, the minister said. PTI
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