JICA scheme comes under CAG scanner

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Defective surveys, unrealistic estimates, delays in handing over land and inability to increase storage capacity of the Peppara Dam have been cited as reasons by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) for the inordinate delay in the completion of the JICA-assisted water supply scheme in the capital city. The CAG report for the year ended March 31, 2011, has based its observations on the project execution during the period of September 2003 to March 2010. The audit observed that the topographical survey of the Thiruvananthapuram scheme was ‘’incomplete.’’ ‘’The defective survey led to preparation of unrealistic estimates, which resulted in execution of excess quantities and extra items of work and non-completion of works within the time frame fixed,’’ the CAG observed.  The CAG has also noted that there were delays by five to 37 months in handing over 19 out of 33 sites relating to the JICA-assisted schemes in Thiruvananthapuram, as well Cherthala, one of the other places meant to benefit from the multi-crore project. ‘’The reasons for the delay in handing over the sites were non-shifting of pipes stacked by the KWA, non-shifting of the existing pipelines and electrical lines, non-availability of site for dumping, non-receipt of land from the State Government and delay in acquisition of land,’’ the report noted. Another big problem faced by the Thiruvananthapuram component was the inability to raise the storage capacity of the Peppara Dam, according to CAG. The drinking water demand in Thiruvananthapuram was pegged at 264 million litres a day (MLD), and it was projected to shoot up to 294 MLD in 2021. However, the existing capacity of water treatment plants during the audit period was only 160 MLD. One new treatment plant, having a capacity of 74 MLD, was partially commissioned at Aruvikkara in May 2010, achieving the target for 2006! However, the C&AG noted that the existing capacity at Peppara - 40 million cubic metres (MCM) - was insufficient to fully utilise the 264 MLD capacity of the water treatment plants. The capacity could be increased to 70 MCM by closing the four radial gates of the dam, but it had a flip side. The process would submerge 267 hectares of forest land, and the proposal was turned down by the Centre.