CM Naidu urges timely completion of Polavaram, calls it an iconic project

Eluru: Stressing the need to get recognition of an iconic project to Polavaram, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, on Monday, directed the officials to complete the project works by October 2026.

Accompanied by his Cabinet colleagues, officials and representatives of allied companies Chandrababu Naidu visited the Polavaram project on Monday and chaired a meeting at the conference hall here where he issued clear guidelines to the officers concerned. Making it clear that the project works should be completed on a war footing basis, the Chief Minister said that the tasks and the timelines set for this need to be taken up initially.

Identify technical issues

The officials should function more efficiently to complete the works with a realistic perspective to achieve the targets set, Chandrababu said. The officers of the Irrigation wing and the representatives of Megha should properly identify the technical issues and prepare the plans to complete the work on time and with precision.

Naidu said that the experts have indicated that the diaphragm and Earth Cum Rock Fill (ECRF) Dam works too can be taken up simultaneously. The new diaphragm wall works will be taken up afresh on January 2 in place of the wall that got damaged earlier and the officials are making preparations for arranging the necessary infrastructure for this, he added.

The Chief Minister said that the next meeting will mainly focus on the review of the progress of the project works and how the plans are being taken forward. It is very crucial to identify the technical aspects and take steps to reach the milestones, CM Chandrababu felt and said that the works for the diaphragm wall and the Earth-cum-Rock-Fill (ECRF) dam too should be taken up simultaneously.

ECRF gap-1 works will be taken up by December 24

The officials informed the Chief Minister that the ECRF gap-1 works will be taken up by December 24 and will be completed by February 26, 2025. The Chief Minister told the officials to complete the gap-2 works before December 27 besides taking up the other works to complete them simultaneously on a war footing basis.

CM Naidu also discussed the interlink works for the Left and the Right canals. The contractors and the officials should also formulate plans and implement them with specific action plans to complete the shifting of material and the trial run in a specific period, the Chief Minister said.

‘Required manpower will be provided’

Talking to media persons after holding a review meeting with the officials Naidu said discussions have already been held with a committee comprising international experts, the Central Water Commission and the Polavaram Project Authority to complete the project works ontime.

Chandrababu said that the required manpower will be provided for land acquisition and a committed officer will be appointed for supervision. Hence, he was very particular that all the land acquisition and the related works should be completed by June 26, 2025. The Chief Minister said that the necessary proposals for granting permissions are yet to be sent as per the norms and this should be taken up on a priority basis so that the works can be completed swiftly.

The Chief Minister clarified that the Supreme Court directions should be followed rigidly with regard to project works, rehabilitation and other related matters. The Special Chief Secretary, Mr G Sai Prasad, explained in detail the progress of the project works and other related issues.

With the completion of Polavaram, a fresh ayakut of 7.27 lakh acres will be added besides consolidation of another 23 lakh acres and provide drinking water to 28 lakh people. Also, 960 mw power can be generated while water can be utilised for industrial purposes in Visakhapatnam besides making 23 TMC feet of water to meet the drinking water needs.