Karnataka Minister directs officials to blacklist L&T over water project delays
Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Eshwar Khandre ordered the blacklisting of Larsen & Toubro for slow progress on drinking water works.
Karnataka Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Eshwar Khandre has directed officials to blacklist Larsen & Toubro (L&T) for the alleged slow progress of drinking water projects, according to reports by The Hindu and Deccan Chronicle.
The direction was issued during a Jal Jeevan Mission review meeting at Vikas Soudha on Wednesday. Officials informed the minister that the company, which is executing works to supply water from the Renukasagar reservoir to 388 rural habitations in Dharwad district, Kalghatgi town, and parts of Belagavi district, has failed to make headway even after a final notice.
The project was awarded on April 20, 2022, with a completion deadline of October 19, 2024. Officials stated that L&T had not purchased water pipelines, failed to deploy enough workers, and was not submitting progress reports.
Minister Khandre noted that he had previously met with officials and contractors on September 11 to demand faster execution and weekly reports, but the pace of work did not improve. He stated that delays would not be tolerated, unless they were caused by pending forest clearances.
The minister also instructed officials to issue final notices to all other contractors delaying multi-village drinking water projects. He noted that the purpose of these projects would be undermined if they are not completed on time, particularly as parts of the state face water shortages due to inadequate rainfall.