6 days ago
19 officials liable for action for lapses in KLIS execution: Report
Hyderabad: The Justice (Retd) PC Ghose commission, apart from pointing out lapses and negligence in the construction of three barrages, came to a conclusion that "the contracts were awarded illegally, estimates were revised maliciously by making undue favours to the agencies and extension of time was given collusively".
L&T constructed the Medigadda barrage, while Afcons built Annaram and Navayuga Sundilla.
Despite Central Water Commission's (CWC) advice for "turnkey basis" (A type of project delivery method where a single contractor takes care of a project from design and construction to commissioning and handover, with the client only needing to 'turn the key' to start using the completed facility) for construction and maintenance, the contracts were awarded on a "lump sum" basis (only construction work), it said.
The commission named 19 officers and engineers, including former chief secretary SK Joshi and Smita Sabharwal, and said they were "liable for action". The commission said Joshi was responsible for "improper role in re-engineering and approvals" and failed to ensure Kaleshwaram project was taken up on turnkey basis. Then secretary in CMO, Smita Sabharwal, was held responsible for not being "diligent, negligent and irresponsible in the discharge of her duties" for failing to ensure business rules compliance regarding cabinet approvals.
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Former ENC C Muralidhar, who was a key person in the irrigation department, acted with "malice and dishonesty" in pushing for revised estimates of the project and deliberately suppressed to CWC the fact that barrage works were taken up on lump sum basis.
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On the favours to contractors, Ghose said the issuance of "substantial construction completion certificate" and completion certificate later for Medigadda barrage was "wrong, illegal and tainted with malice to do undue favour to the agency," as works were not fully completed and defects were known.
Bank guarantees were released based on false completion certificates. It also pointed out "extension of times were given in callous manner and breach of conditions".
"L&T is liable to complete all the pending works including defect rectification works and restoration works including restoration of the Block 7 of Medigadda barrage, at its own cost. In case the Agency fails to act in this regard, the project authorities should get the works done and recover the amounts incurred thereupon from the agency in accordance with law," the report said.
It said L&T's claim that it merely executed the works as per the design given to it was therefore unacceptable and there was email correspondence that shows the agency was involved in finalising the design along with Central Design Organisation (CDO) officials. The two other contractors of Annaram and Sundilla barrages "are held liable to rectify the defects at their cost since they are held to have not attended the same during defect liability period".
