AP govt sanctions`1,100 cr for Polavaram RR package

Visakhapatnam: The multi-purpose Polavaram project will get a fresh impetus with the Andhra Pradesh Government releasing Rs.1100 crore towards relief and rehabilitation (RR) package for the project displaced and affected people.

The amount distribution will start shortly at a function to be organised by the Irrigation officials in the presence of Irrigation Minister Nimmala Rama Naidu and Special Chief Secretary (Water Resources) G Sai Prasad. Sources said the amount has been adjusted from Rs1,800 crore given as advance by the Centre for the special account of the long-delayed project.

Due to inordinate delay in launching work and change in governemnts, the project cost of Polavaram project has escalated to an estimated Rs55,000 crore from the earlier cost revised at Rs30,436 crore. The construciton of a new diaphgram wall itself is costing Rs1,000 crore after the damage caused to the earlier dam in 2020 floods during the YSRCP regime.

Sources aid the amount sanctioned on Tuesday will be distributed to the residents within the 41.15-meter contour in the first phase of the project. Officials from the Central Government have been exerting pressure on the State to spend the amount released by it on RR package. The coalition government after coming to power has so far released Rs1,800 crore towards RR package.

Sources told Bizz Buzz that almost half of the diaphgram wall work has been completed. Buttress dam work has already been completed. Vibra compaction work is in advance stage of completion. Naidu has already set December as the deadline for completing the diaphgram wall as per the recommendations made by the international experts. The rockfill dam work is expected to be launched in November and completed by December, 2027.

The coalition government had expanded the Polavaram Right Canal to 22,000 cusecs and completed he left canal works by spending Rs.1200 crore. During a recent review, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu directed the officials to complete the Polavaram works on a war-footing ahead of 2027 Godavari Pushkaralu. He also mooted developing a tourist circuit linking Bhadrachalam, Papikondalu, upstream Polavaram and Dowleswaram downstream. For 24x7 tracking of CCTV footage on Polavaram work progress, he wanted the surveillance cameras connected to Real-Time Governance System (RTGS). During his recent meeting with Central leaders, the Chief Minister also wanted to hasten the process to give all clearances for various works on a fast-track basis so that they could complete work on Polavaram project as per the roadmap finalised by the State Government.