Polavaram Project Authority has given clarification on the height of the Polavaram project. Responding to the information sought by RTI activist and senior journalist Inuganti Ravikumar, the PPA stated that there are no two phases in the project.
It revealed that the state government has requested that payments under the water component be divided into two between 2021-23. The Polavaram Project Authority said that it has requested the central government to divide the Polavaram project into two for reimbursement of funds.
The PPA has responded to the information sought under RTI on 14 issues. In fact, it has clarified that there is no mention of two phases in the height issue from the Polavaram project proposal. It has been revealed that in June 2021, the AP government had recommended that the work be divided into +41.15 meters and +45.72 meters for R&R works and rehabilitation of project evacuees.
With this recommendation, it has been clarified that the Secretary of the Central Jal Shakti Department recorded this proposal in April 2023 and approved the funds under the first phase. This is why the decision to proceed with the first phase of the project has come to the fore, RTI activist Inaganti Ravi said.
The AP government has explained the issues regarding the fee payment made to design consultant AFRY India. It has been clarified that the contractor appointed for the construction of the project should pay for the designs, but the Water Resources Department is making payments for this.
The PPA stated that alluvium had accumulated there after the construction of the guide bund, and in this context, the retaining wall should not be built without changing the design. But it said that the guide bund has sagged due to soil extraction. The project authority stated that a new D-wall should be constructed as per the recommendation of the expert panel.
It has been clarified that this should be completed between November 2024 and July 2025. It has been revealed that an expert committee has been formed to find ways to resolve the damage caused to the project. It has been stated that the cut-off wall and guide bund are under the defect liability period and should be rebuilt at the contractor’s expense as per the terms of the agreement.
It was revealed that the Dam Design Review Panel has specified how the rock fill guide bund should be located on the left side of the approach channel as per the authorized drawing.
