Hyderabad: The company contracted to build the Annaram barrage of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme, Afcons-Vijeta-PES JV, has informed the irrigation department that it cannot be held responsible for the problems at the barrage, and any accountability on that front, lies with the Irrigation & Command Area Development department.
In a letter to the department on June 26, the agency made it clear that it does not agree with allegations that there were quality related issues during the construction of the barrage. It also said it cannot be held responsible for works that it was directed to take up – post National Dam Safety Authority inspections – which it said were performed only as per instructions from the irrigation department.
The company said at every step of the way it strictly followed the department’s instructions, and as far as any design related issues were concerned these were entirely in the irrigation department’s domain. Afcons said it only carried out construction, as well as all subsequent works as per the department provided designs and specifications, and instructions.
On allegations that the required number of boreholes were not drilled post the NDSA inspection for taking up geotechnical studies, Afcons said department engineers supervising this task asked the company to stop drilling as sand and water was gushing out of one borehole that was being drilled in Bay no. 35. With respect to grouting of the gaps under the foundations, the company said this was done following written instructions from the department, and that it could not be held responsible for any altering of the critical subsurface geological conditions.
On allegations with respect to deficiencies related to site investigations, model studies, hydraulic and structural and geotechnical investigations, Afcons said this was not in the scope of the contractor. The company said that since it met every one of its obligations, the irrigation department should release the outstanding payment of Rs 176.49 crore owed to it, as this was agreed to by the department earlier on June 19 at a meeting chaired by the irrigation department’s principal secretary on various issues related to the barrage.
