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dam-l LS: Narmada works failed to deliver
The Indian Express
Sunday, July 18, 1999
Narmada works failed to deliver -- CAG
UNITED NEWS OF INDIA
BHOPAL, JULY 17: The Comptroller and Auditor General
(CAG) has
reported that even after incurring an expenditure of Rs
2438.68 crore, the
major Narmada Valley Projects had shown only a marginal
increase in
irrigation potential.According to the CAG report for
the year ended March,
1998, out of ten major projects under the Narmada
Valley Development
Authority (NVDA), only the Rani Avanti Bai Sagar (RABS)
project registered
a marginal rise in irrigation potential, by 12,000 hectare.
The other nine projects under the NVDA are Indira
Sagar, Omkareshwar,
Maheshwar, Bargi Diversion, Maan, Jobat, Upper Narmada,
Upper Beda and
Lower Goi.
The report also highlighted the fact that despite an
investment of 33 per cent of
the total estimated cost of Rs 7412.04 crore, no NVDA
project has been
completed so far.
The construction of the dam and canals of the Indira
Sagar project, which are
the biggest projects under the authority, was way
behind schedule and no
benefit was recorded, in spite of a recorded spending
ofRs 922.55 crore, the
report said.
Ironically, while lack of funds was cited as the reason
for such a delay, the
authorities recorded large-scale savings during
1995-96, 1996-97 and
1997-98 to the tune of Rs 88.5 crore, Rs 77.04 crore
and Rs 84.93 crore
respectively, the report said.
The loan assistance of Rs 88.50 crore received from the
Centre under the
Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme and Rs 42
crore available from
National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development
during 1996-97 and
1997-98 were not utilised fully, the report said.
The report added that the Narmada Valley Development
Authority surrendered
a sum of Rs 16.49 crore in the same period and diverted
Rs 14.87 crore to
other works. During 1994-95 and 1997-98, the report
said the budget grant of
Rs 8.87 crore for rehabilitation and resettlement works
lapsed. Besides, Rs
14.32 crore were kept in banks outside Government
accounts by land
acquisition officers in violation of financial rules,
it added.
The report described therehabilitation and resettlement
of oustees of Indira
Sagari and Sardar Sarovar Projects as ``very poor'',
saying that only 746 out
of 33014 project-affected families of Sardar Sarovar
and 37 out of 29537 of
Indira Sagar had been resettled.
The CAG pointed out that the establishment expenditure
was very high in
comparison to work expenditure, as the Madhya Pradesh
Government did not
modify the organisational structure of NVDA, even after
it did not get the
World Bank loan.
The Comptroller and Auditor General also detected
irregularities on various
counts amounting to Rs 302.90 crore under several
heads, including excess
payment, extra-avoidable cost, irregular and unfruitful
expenditure,
non-recovery and pending liabilities.
The purpose of creation of Narmada Valley Development
Authority for
planned and expeditious development of the Narmada
basin was not served,
the report concluded.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.