Delay in construction makes dam project dearer by over Rs 100 crore

On the reasons for the delay,the official added,“On two occasions,the contractor stopped construction and left. According to the contract signed between the contractor and the Irrigation department,the subletting of contract by the contractor was not allowed,which is being done in the present case. This explains why the contractor may have left on the two occasions.”

Attributing the increasing cost to rising inflation and material cost,the official added: “The cost of the project has been revised on at least three occasions. While the initial cost of the project was Rs 92 crore,it was revised to Rs 130 crore owing to a change in design. The cost was again revised to

Rs 180 crore due to delayed work and is now expected to touch anything between

Rs 250 to Rs 300 crore by the end of the project.”

In August 2008,the projected four-lane road connecting the Kalka-Pinjore Urban complex to the rest of the district,prompted the authorities to increase the top width of the Kaushalya dam from 12 meters to 30 meters. For the change in design,the Haryana Urban Development Authority had to bear an additional cost of Rs 30 crore.

Interestingly,even as a board installed at the construction site mentions the deadline for the project as June 2009,the chief engineer with the Haryana Irrigation department maintains there is no delay in the project.

Talking to Newsline,Chief Engineer R K Kashyap said,“While 40 per cent of work has been completed,the progress is on at the right pace without any delay. The increase in cost of land,acquired for the changed design,has escalated the project cost.”

On being told that the additional cost for the changed design was to be incurred by HUDA,the chief engineer preferred to remain tightlipped.

With a total catchment area of 77 square kilometre,the Kaushalya project is expected to benefit various villages in the district and also help augment drinking water supply in the region.