Use pre-stressed structures for projects: Naidu

In a review meeting on Neeru-Chettu works, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said that pending works have to be completed on a war-footing basis and water has to be supplied to Rayalseema region within three months.

Suggesting that an expert committee be formed to review works and monitor them under the government's flagship Neeru-Chettu programme, the Chief Minister said new technologies which reduce time could be adopted to complete projects.

The Chief Minister directed the irrigation department secretary to use pre-fabricated, pre-stressed structures for new projects as well ongoing one. 'The department could test these on a pilot basis,' the Chief Minister added.

The meeting consisted of irrigation department officials, district collectors, contractors and agencies working on various minor and major irrigation projects.

The Chief Minister added that all stalled payments and every hurdle from the government's side should be cleared within week. 'The expert committee will look into issues and solve them in a week's time. We want accountability and quality work,' he said, taking a tough stance against under-performing contractors/agencies.

He reviewed pending works of Thotapalli Reservoir, Pattiseema Life Irrigation Project, Polavaram Right Main Canal, Gaaleru Nagari, Veligonda, Gandikota and other main projects of the state.

Asking the Chief Secretary to look into stoppage of payments and other gaps with regard to GO.22, the Chief Minister directed all departments, agencies and contractors to work together on meeting the deadlines for projects.

In the meeting, the Chief Minister enquired about the problems faced by contractors, agencies and referred them to the concerned department. He simultaneously interacted with district collectors through a video conference on why projects were being delayed.

The Chief Minister said that the previous government had pushed the sector in doldrums. 'The lack of long-term plan in implementing works, lack of timely payments to agencies and contractors has hit the infrastructure sector badly,' he added.

Recalling that Andhra Pradesh had the best infrastructure during his earlier term as the Chief Minister, the Chief Minister said the 'business as usual' attitude of contractors and agencies is not acceptable.

'I will review all your works through aerial survey. I will travel in the bus, spend my day and night at the project and ensure their completion. We need to reach our targets,' the Chief Minister said.

Minister Umamaheswara Rao, Chief Secretary IYR Krishna Rao, Secretary to CM Sai Prasad, secretaries of irrigation department, rural development, panchayat raj and forest department were present at the meeting.