The Comptroller and Auditor General of India in its latest performance audit report for the year ending March 31, 2010 has made glaring revelations about tardy progress of work on the Bansagar multipurpose project on Son River — an inter-state project of Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
The CAG report says that construction of Bansagar Project Unit-II canals in Madhya Pradesh, taken up in 1979 at a cost of `10.06 crores, was still progressing in March 2010 after spending `961 crores. Unit-I of the project comprising construction of headwork was started in 1978 at a cost of `91.31 crores and was completed in September 2006 at a cost of `1,251 crores.
The construction of the canal system under Unit-II of the project in each state was the responsibility of that state.
Against the target of 1,23,634 hectares, irrigation potential of only 81,701 hectares was developed and the actual irrigation potential utilised was as low as 4.19 per cent in 2005-06 and to 11.69 per cent in 2009-10, the CAG has pointed out adding the shortfall in extending irrigation to the farmers ranged from 95.81 per cent to 84.33 per cent.
According to the CAG, the shortfall in irrigation to farmers was due to construction of canals in part reaches, non-construction of 105 heads against a target of 175 and non-construction of 472.33 km of distributaries and minor canals.
The CAG has further pointed out that the estimates and designs of excavations and structures were prepared without proper survey, funds meant for Bansagar canal network were diverted and utilised for lift irrigation schemes and minor tank works.