Sitarama Project Rajiv link canal in Khammam damaged weeks after water release

Less than a month after water was released into the Rajiv link canal of the Sitarama Project in Khammam district, portions of its RCC lining have disintegrated, exposing the earthen embankment. Farmers have alleged poor quality construction and demanded immediate repairs.

Khammam: Parts of reinforced cement concrete (RCC) side-lining of Sitarama Project Enkoor/Rajiv link canal have been damaged less than a month after water was released into the canal in Enkoor mandal in the district.

Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao, who inaugurated the Rajiv link canal one year ago, described the project as a prestigious one that connects Wyra Reservoir to the main canal of the Sitarama Project to stabilise the Nagarjuna Sagar ayacut. He also monitored the canal works on a regular basis.

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However, some portions of the RCC lining of the nine kilometre-long canal constructed at a cost of about Rs 72 crore between Repallewada and Imamnagar in the mandal disintegrated exposing the earthen embankment beneath.

Farmers expressed concern about the structure getting damaged so quickly due to only a minor flow of water. As the incident exposed the alleged poor quality of the construction work they raised questions about the official supervision during the construction process.

With the damage to the side lining the soil beneath was being washed away posing a threat to the structural integrity of the embankment. A comprehensive inquiry, involving technical experts, should be conducted into the quality of materials used in the construction.

The Congress government should carry out repair works immediately before the canal was damaged further and take action against the contractor involved in the construction, the farmers demanded.

It was said that the contractor who constructed the canal was said to be a close associate of a district Minister and had connections with a leader close to the Chief Minister, as a result of which officials remained silent over the quality of the canal work.

It might be noted that the Congress Ministers have often blamed the previous BRS regime for redesigning of the project leading to inordinate delay and cost escalation. How they would respond to the damage caused to the canal in their own rule is yet to be seen.