AP aims to expedite Polavaram project completion by July 2027

Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh government has signaled its intent to expedite work on the diaphragm wall and Earth-cum-Rock Fill (ECRF) dam of the Polavaram multipurpose project, aiming for completion by July 2027, ahead of the earlier deadline of March 2028.

The officials connected with the execution of the mega project have launched an exercise on how to convince the Central Water Commission and the Jal Shakti Ministry on expediting work on the project, an official from the Irrigation Department told Bizz Buzz.

The project cost of Polavaram has been escalating ever since its conception due to inordinate delays, environmental issues, inter-State disputes over sharing of river water and fears over flooding in the low-lying areas. A 960 MW hydro power plant will come up as part of the project. The project, considered as lifeline for Andhra Pradesh, envisages irrigation for 60,704 acres in undivided West Godavari, 1.01 lakh acres in East Godavari and Krishna districts.

The project moots supply of drinking water to nearly three million people in 611 villages and diversion of 80 TMC to Krishna river basin. In total, a gross irrigation potential of 4.36 lakh hectares will be created.

With 50 lakh cusecs, Polavaram is expected to become the largest dam and an engineering marvel in the world surpassing the record of 3 Gorges Dam of China. The previous estimates for the project based on 2017-18 price level were Rs 55,548 crroe. It may have to go for further revision than the estimates made by the erstwhile government.

Works can be started in January if the Central authorities give approval for the design of a new diaphragm wall and increase its length to 1396 meters by year-end. If the works on the diaphragm wall and ECRF are not taken up simultaneously from early January, 2025, the project will be completed by March, 2028 as decided earlier.

During a recent review meeting, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu directed the officials to obtain the required clearances from the Centre at the earliest and to be ready to start simultaneous works from the New Year. He also wanted immediate release of funds from the State exchequer for the works as the State government fast-tracked the implementation of the project immediately after forming the NDA government in June.

State Minister for Water Works Nimmala Rama Naidu after a workshop at Rajamahendravaram on the project, said as the Centre and the State are on the same page, the Polavaram project will be implemented on a top priority by obtaining all the clearances. Blaming the YSRCP regime for causing more damage to the State than the loss caused by the bifurcation, he alleged that Polavaram project itself was a classic instance as to how the erstwhile government neglected its implementation and allowed the damage to the diaphragm wall. For land acquisition and relief and rehabilitation works, the government needs Rs 7,213 crore under the phase-I, according to a source. The capacity of Polavaram Right Bank Canal, as per the recommendation of experts, needs to be increased to release 30,000 cusecs. The date of completing critical works now depends on getting formal approval from the Central authorities to the new design of diaphragm wall and simultaneous taking up of ECRF dam.