Sub-contractors rule the roost

K Veerabhadra Rao / TNN / Feb 26, 2008, 01:17 IST

Text Size

Small
Medium
Large

Sub-contractors rule the roost in the CM's home turf despite Y S Rajasekhara Reddy's oft-repeated promise to rein in the sub-contractors of various irrigation projects in the state.

KADAPA: Move over engineers. Move over quality work. Sub-contractors rule the roost in the CM's home turf despite Y S Rajasekhara Reddy's oft-repeated promise to rein in the sub-contractors of various irrigation projects in the state. The sub-contract system has become such a menace in the ongoing developmental projects, particularly irrigation works, in Kadapa district that the original contractor does not even know who is executing the work.
For starters one package of Gandikota work under Galeru-Nagari Sujala Sravanthi (GNSS) project has changed at least six contractors hands before it was taken up. This huge work entails construction of a reservoir, pipeline, lift schemes, canals and feeder channels. Though it was secured by two major construction companies as a joint venture, the authorities gave it to a contractor, who is a native of Kadapa district, on sub-contract.
The local contractor, who is also a TDP leader, sub-let the work to another contractor from Rajahmundry area, at a much lower rate. The story did not end there. The Rajahmundry contractor wanted fast bucks and handed it to another contractor, after getting a handsome share.
Finally the sixth contractor began executing the works. According to irrigation sources, the first five contractors got 20-25 per cent of the total amount, which means that the executing contractor secured the work at 25 per cent less than the original cost. As per the rule book, a work can be sub-let to a sub-contractor only up to 50 per cent and also, the sub- contractor's experience must be screened and approved by the chief engineer or superintending engineer.

As most of the contractors and sub-contractors are very powerful and have direct access to the top brass in the Government, no engineer dares to question them. "The engineers do not have the wherewithal to take on the powerful lobby of contractors or their dummies. In the GNSS project, construction of work on two reservoirs and canal excavation changed the hands of five contractors. Presently three sub-contractors are executing the works with no one having any previous experience of handling such an important work," an engineer not wanting to be named told ��TOI'.
Another senior engineer chips in, "They (read sub-contractors) were earlier carrying out small works worth not more than Rs 40-50 lakh, but suddenly they are flooded with works worth over Rs 50 crore just because they happen to be relatives of senior politicians". But sources say even engineers are no small fries when it comes to bagging key contracts.
A senior engineer who secured a portion of the Pulivendula branch canal (PBC) modernisation works could not execute the work properly and finally, the original contractor has handed over the work to an ��experienced' sub-contractor "since the work is directly related to Pulivendula area, native constituency of the CM", a source averred.
Sources said Telugu Ganga, Mylavaram and Lingala project works are no exception either where the sub-contractors call the shots. But what is worrying the experts is the inferior quality works which might spell the doom for the projects. "The quality will automatically take a beating with each contractor getting a 5 to 10 per cent share of the total cost while sub-letting the work to a sub-contractor," an expert said.

End of Article