BJP leader Nagam Janardhan Reddy accuses TRS Government of 2,400 crores scam in Palamaru lift Irrigation project

HYDERABAD: BJP leader Nagam Janardhan Reddy has accused the TRS Government of 2,400 crore scam in the assigning of Palamuru Ranga Reddy lift irrigation project tenders this Friday.

Nagam released documents at a press conference alleged that there was an increased revision of estimation of the construction of the four house pumps in few months only to benefit the contracting agencies. “For example, with reference to the Narlapur pumping station, the original estimate prepared in January 2016 was 1411.37 crore. However, by June 2016, this was upwardly revised to 2025.97 crores. Thus there was an escalation of price to the tune of 614.59 crore in a matter of five months. There are four pumping stations in the Palamuru Ranga Reddy lift irrigation project and at all places, the estimates were changed to benefit the contracting agency and it totally amounts to 2,400 crore.

This is a big scam where the chief minister is involved,” alleged BJP leader Nagam Janardhan Reddy.

Earlier Nagam filed a PIL alleging that Palamuru Ranga Reddy lift irrigation project was not according to the guidelines given by the Engineering Staff College of India and that it was willfully omitted to benefit contractors close to the Government. The High Court dismissed his PIL saying him not to make vague allegations.

He said the eligibility conditions with essential clauses were deleted and insufficient eligibility criteria for tender approval were incorporated so as to assign the contract to contractors close to CM. “Tailor-made conditions were also not sufficient to make them qualify .The irrigation department then got the tenders of these agencies qualified after technical evolution by commissionerate of tenders. I gave this information to the vigilance commission and the CM. The vigilance report was submitted to the CM but there was no action,” said the BJP leader.

The government gave its approval of the estimated cost of Rs 35,000crore for the Palamuru-Rangareddy lift irrigation scheme project. The cost was based on a detailed report submitted by the Engineering staff of India. He said that “The estimates were increased with help of a retired engineering-in-chief who is working on contract basis and who does not have any responsibility with regard to public money. Contrary to ESCI report recommendations, estimate of a pump set was increased by `61 crore resulting in total increase of `2,400 crore”, as reported in Times of India.