Vijayawada: Lack of manpower to supervise the implementation of the Polavaram irrigation project has become a matter of concern for the officials entrusted with the task of completing the project on time.
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has directed officials to speed up the work and complete the Polavaram project at the earliest, so that it provides water for drinking purposes, growing crops and meeting industrial needs.
However, this has raised concerns in the water resources department, which has the main responsibility of completing the project. There is also a vacancy at the higher level in the department. The post of Superintending Engineer is vacant after the incumbent has been promoted to Chief Engineer. Four of the eight posts of Executive Engineer are vacant. Compared to the sanctioned number, only 60-70 percent of the post of Assistant Engineer is filled.
Although Polavaram is a national project, the state government has taken over the project implementation. There are several central agencies involved in the project such as Polavaram Project Authority, Central Water Commission, Ministry of Water Power, Dam Design Review Commission, Revised Cost Committee, and Water and Power Consultancy Service.
Senior officials of water resources have to meet the heads and members of these agencies, mainly in Delhi, at periodic intervals to obtain their approval for the design of various parts of the project and other issues. They also need to be updated about work progress etc.
Sources in the water resources department say that adequate manpower should be available, especially at the senior level, so that there is better coordination with the authorities in Delhi. They have disclosed that some employees are under pressure and are confused at work.
When contacted, a senior official of the water resources department said, “It is true that we lack manpower, especially at the higher levels. Although we don’t have any problems now, there may be problems when the work of the project picks up speed.”
Further, the Chief Minister’s office is likely to seek live broadcasting of the project work, so that the Chief Minister can directly monitor the work and direct the officials to complete the works quickly. This may add pressure on the available high water resources authorities.