Polavaram: 77% left bank canal works completed; tenders invited for Rs 960 Cr worth of works

Amaravati: Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday directed the officials and the contractors to work in close coordination to complete the Polavaram project on time.

Chairing a high-level meeting, Naidu reviewed the project and discussed the steps taken in the past four months to overcome the problems that arose during the previous government's tenure.

He mainly focused on the permissions needed for the project at various stages, technical and financial difficulties, and the challenges faced in completing the project on time.

The officials briefed the Chief Minister on the works taken up after the TDP-led NDA government came to power and the progress on dewatering works.

They informed Chandrababu Naidu that a favorable atmosphere had been created for taking up diaphragm wall works after undertaking the dewatering works. A letter was sent to the Central Water Commission (CWC) on October 24 seeking permission for the design of the diaphragm wall.

Stating that the diaphragm wall length should be 1,396 meters, the officials told the Chief Minister that works will be taken up in January if the design is accepted by the CWC. The CWC permission is needed for undertaking simultaneously the diaphragm wall works along with the ECRF (Earth-cum-Rock Filling) works, the officials said. Officials noted that they will have clarity on technical aspects after the workshop being conducted at Polavaram beginning Wednesday.

The Chief Minister told the officials to hold discussions with the CWC to examine the possibilities of simultaneously taking up the diaphragm wall and ECRF works. The representatives of the construction company said that if the diaphragm works are taken up in January it will take a minimum of one year to complete and if the ECRF dam works are taken up later they can be completed in another 24 months.

If the works are taken up simultaneously they can be completed by July 2027 and if they are undertaken separately both the works can be completed by March 2028, the construction company representatives told the Chief Minister. Chandrababu Naidu made it clear that the works need to be completed early and at the same time quality is also important. He said that the works should be as per the laid down norms and there should be no deviation.

The officials said that 77 percent of the Polavaram left bank canal works have been completed till now and tenders have been called for another Rs 960 crore worth of works which will begin in December. The work will be completed by July 2025. They said that Rs 7,213 crore funds are needed for land acquisition and R&R (Relief and Rehabilitation) under phase-1 as 16,440 acres of land are still needed for completing the phase-1 works.

Naidu said that along with the project construction, these works also should be completed simultaneously and ordered the officials to release the funds as and when necessary. The review meeting also focussed on increasing the Polavaram right bank canal capacity to 30,000 cusecs. Chief Minister told the officials to take up the construction of an iconic bridge on Polavaram.

Naidu directed the construction company to complete the power project works soon and seek all the necessary permissions for completing the Polavaram project works early. The Chief Minister said that he will visit Polavaram sometime this month and release the plan for the project works.

The officials also explained to the Chief Minister the progress on the Chintalapudi Lift Irrigation project works and said that Rs 2,463 crore needs to be spent to supply irrigation water to three lakh acres. The Chief Minister said that the works need to be completed on time and he also reviewed the progress of the Veligonda project works.