Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Monday visited the Polavaram project in Eluru district and reviewed the progress of the works. The Chief Minister conducted an aerial inspection of the project site, Godavari floodwater flow through the spillway, and the ongoing project works between the upstream and downstream coffer dams.
He subsequently visited the project site and inspected the Earth-cum-Rock-Fill Dam (Gap 1 and Gap 2) and the power generation unit works. Water Resources Minister Nimmala Ramanaidu and senior officials from the department accompanied the Chief Minister.
Naidu inquired about the progress of the ECRF Gap 1 works and the construction of the power generation station. He later held a review meeting regarding the Polavaram Project works and 36 priority projects to be undertaken across the state.
Officials reported that 89 per cent of the civil works of the Polavaram Project have been completed so far. The Chief Minister directed that the works on Gap 1 and Gap 2 of the Earth-cum-Rock Fill Dam be completed within the stipulated timeline.
Officials stated that the tunnel works connecting the right and left canals would be completed by the end of this month. Naidu ordered the expedited execution of works related to access roads to the dam, the right and left embankments, and the development of the Gandi Pochamma Temple.
He instructed officials to ensure that displaced persons face no difficulties regarding rehabilitation and compensation, and directed that land acquisition and Rehabilitation & Resettlement (R&R) processes be completed swiftly. The Chief Minister also suggested constructing an iconic bridge at the Polavaram Project site and emphasised the need to provide various infrastructure facilities.
According to an official release, the Chief Minister visited the Polavaram Project site 37 times since 2014 and conducted 136 reviews regarding the progress of the project works. Earlier, while interacting with farmers at Pitchuka Lanka in Dr B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema district, he revealed that the coalition government had spent Rs 24,000 crore on the irrigation sector in the last two years.
He criticised the previous government for utter negligence in the construction of the Polavaram project, saying that 72 per cent of the works were completed between 2014-19, but only 2 per cent were completed in the following five years. Naidu said that Polavaram would have been completed by 2021 if the TDP government had continued.
He said that after the formation of the coalition government, work has sped up, and 89 per cent progress has now been achieved. He assured that justice will be given to the displaced and that there will be no compromise on resettlement and compensation, and announced that the Polavaram project will be dedicated to the nation at the scheduled time.
The Chief Minister explained that if Polavaram is completed, the water problem of the Godavari districts will be solved forever, and Godavari water will be diverted to the Krishna delta and Rayalaseema through Pattiseema, and the agricultural landscape there will change.