Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has directed the Water Resources Department to take steps to construct the Polavaram Irrigation Project, which is the lifeline of the state, at its full capacity. He suggested that the project be built at a maximum height of 45.72 meters, store 194.60 TMC of water and increase pressure on the Center to sanction the necessary funds to provide the surplus water of Godavari to the entire state.
He also said that efforts should be made to seek consent from the Union Ministry of Water Resources to allocate funds for land acquisition and relief and rehabilitation programs in the 45.72-meter contour. He suggested that the Center be pressured to completely lift the stop work order issued by the Union Ministry of Forest and Environment regarding the construction of the project every year.
The previous Jagan government had agreed to construct the Polavaram project in a 41.15-meter contour. Due to this, only 115 TMC can be stored. With this, the coalition government is focusing on constructing the project to its full capacity.
CM Chandrababu Naidu held a review meeting on Polavaram and other priority projects on the 5th of this month at the Velagapudi Secretariat with Water Resources Minister Nimmala Ramanaidu, Special Chief Secretary of the department G. Sai Prasad, Polavaram R&R Commissioner Ramsunder Reddy, Engineer-in-Chief M. Venkateswara Rao, and Chief Engineers of Krishna Delta, Polavaram, Godavari Delta, and Ongole projects.
The minutes of this review meeting were released on Friday. The Chief Minister directed that the construction of the Earth-cum-Rockfill Dam (ECRF) should be started from the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Central Water Commission (CWC) as the crucial new diaphragm wall is being constructed parallel to the old wall to complete the Polavaram project by May 2027. He suggested that steps be taken to avoid any doubts as to whether the ECRF dam can be built parallel to the diaphragm wall to make the most of the time.
Chandrababu ordered that if the Central Water Commission approves the construction of the ECRF parallel to the diaphragm wall, full instructions be taken in this regard. He made it clear to the officials that the Center should be asked to disclose the length of the diaphragm wall after which the ECRF work should be undertaken.
CM Chandrababu Naidu has ordered to invite tenders for the construction of flood protection walls. He has directed that the left main canal work be completed as per the schedule and the hill on the right side of the spill channel be excavated to collect stones and other materials required for the construction of the ECRF.
