₹117 crore down the drain? Chhotaudepur canal construction under scrutiny

A team from Vadodara’s GERI (Gujarat Engineering and Research Institute) has collected samples of construction material from 21 km of Chhotaudepur’s Sukhi Reservoir Scheme works suspecting an alleged scam of ₹117 crore.

Under the Sukhi Reservoir Scheme in Chhotaudepur district, a fund of ₹225 crore was allocated for the construction of canals across three talukas to ensure irrigation benefits. Of this, a canal construction project worth ₹117 crore is now under investigation for corruption. 

An Irrigation department secretary granted administrative approval to the executive engineer for ₹225 crore worth of works under the Sukhi Reservoir Scheme on September 13, 2023. This included two canal construction projects worth ₹117 crore, for which  ₹68 crore has already been disbursed. Tenders were issued for works in Naswadi and Bodeli.

On March 15, 2024, a work order of ₹70 crore was issued to Vadodara-based agency Shivalay Infra to construct 21 km of canals. The agency had already received ₹68 crore in payments.

Vadodara-based agency S B Patel was issued another work order worth ₹47 crore on December 3, 2024, with a project completion deadline of December 2, 2025. The agency was initially paid ₹18 crore.

Both agencies allegedly carried out substandard work, with large cracks appearing in the canals. Quality control engineers have since been assigned to investigate the shoddy work. 

Samples of canal lining from Jambughoda taluka in Panchmahal, among other sites in Chhotaudepur, have been collected for testing.

Locals have expressed outrage, pointing out that such canal works are being undertaken after 40 years, only to be marred by corruption.

Experts state that poor attention to concrete works might be the reason — including inadequate soil compaction and insufficient  water sprinkling during construction — cracks have started appearing in the canals even before water has been released.