The Chandrababu Naidu government is preparing to release another Rs. 6,270 crore under the relief and rehabilitation package for the displaced people of the Polavaram project. Usually, when the construction of any project is completed, the government focuses on making full payments to the contractors. It ignores those who gave land for the project. It does not give much priority to relief and rehabilitation programs.
However, CM Chandrababu Naidu has said that since most of the people who gave land for the construction of Polavaram are tribals, they should be provided with relief and rehabilitation before the project is completed. While the construction work continues, he has instructed the officials to complete the relief and rehabilitation package.
As part of this, after the TDP alliance came to power under his leadership, Rs. 1,000 crore was directly deposited in the accounts of the displaced beneficiaries. Now, the action is being taken to release Rs. 6,270 crore for land acquisition, relief rehabilitation and cash payments in the 41.15-meter contour. So far, 14,469 families have been provided relief rehabilitation for 38,060 displaced families.
These orders were given ahead of his third visit to Polavaram on Thursday, after returning to power. In fact, during 2014-19, when Chandrababu was the CM, 71.93 percent of the Polavaram works were completed. Rs. 6,000 crores were provided to the displaced people.
However, Jaganmohan Reddy government has completely ignored the relief and rehabilitation between 2019-24. It is known that Jagan expressed his inability in the presence of the displaced people, saying that he will give them only if the Center funds them.
The Chandrababu government is putting the Polavaram works, which have been stalled for five years, on track. So far, 78.56 percent has been completed. The project works, which were 71.93 percent complete by 2019, have only been 3.84 percent in the next five years.
After Chandrababu became the CM again, from June 2024 to February 2025, 2.78 percent of the work was completed in 89 months. Headworks work was 76 percent, right canal work was 93 percent, land acquisition and relief rehabilitation was 25 percent.
Especially the diaphragm wall work is progressing at a fast pace. These were started on the 18th of last month.. and the target was set to be completed by December. The total length of this wall is 1396.60 meters.. so far 158.20 meters have been constructed.
