Unviable projects-- sources of legal plunder: Lok Satta

Hyderabad, Nov 21 (UNI) Lok Satta Party National Coordinator Jayaprakash Narayan (Dr.JP) today alleged that the Andhra Pradesh Government was perpetrating a big hoax on the public by taking up ''contractor-driver'' rather than outcome driven projects under 'Jalayagnam'.

Referring to the CAG (Comptroller and Auditor General) report on irrigation projects in the state he pointed out that the government had taken up massive lift irrigation projects without bothering about the availability and cost of power.

''More than 100 tmc feet of water is sought to be lifted to a height of over 200 feet. It will cost Rs 20,000 in terms of power to irrigate an acre of land per year. Again, projects have been taken up without any integrated approach. If the head-works are taken up, canals are ignored and if canals are dug, the head-works are not built''.

He said the CAG report brought to light what has been in public knowledge for a long time - the clear nexus between politicians and officials on the one hand and contractors on the other, the high project estimates and the questionable tendering process and the real estate boom stimulated by this ill-gotten money.

UNI