Nizamabad: Shortage of skilled workers has adversely affected Mission Kakatiya. To overcome the problems, contractors have been engaging workers from Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha and other states. Drivers of JCB machines and tractors are demanding higher wages for silt removal from water tanks.
TRS government’s flagship programme, Mission Kakatiya was launched at Sadashivanagar mandal headquarters in Nizamabad district on March 12.
Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao along with major irrigation minister T. Harish Rao laid the foundation stone. Of 46,447 water tanks in the state, the government has taken up work in 9,651 tanks.
Actually, JCBs, tractors are engaged in large numbers to remove silt from water tanks and shift it to agriculture fields, wherever required. In view of this, the contractors either purchased or leased out machinery for Mission Kakatiya. Shockingly, shortage of manpower has badly affected work.
To complete the water tank restoration work within a short span of time, the contractors rushed to north Indian states to engage JCB drivers.
These Hindi speaking youths were engaged in the work for silt removal and strengthening of bunds. Unable to understand the local situation, a few JCB drivers have been collecting money from farmers to fill up silt in tractors.
Irrigation department Nizamabad executive engineer K. Bhupal Reddy said that Mission Kakatiya was being speeded up in the district.
“We strictly followed the norms in finalisation of tenders for water tank works,” he added. He added that they initiated action against JCB drivers in Bheemgal mandal for illegally collecting money from farmers.
Meanwhile, major irrigation minister T. Harish Rao visited Yellareddy, Kamareddy Assembly constituencies thrice to assess Mission Kakatiya work.
He suggested elected representatives to get involved in the project. TRS MLAs are also reviewing the works under Mission Kakatiya project. Opposition party leaders criticised the high level irregularities that have been taking place in the water tank work. They are also preparing to take up agitation programmes against Mission Kakatiya too.
