Polavaram project: TS govt suffers setback; centre says no to fresh study
According to Andhra Pradesh representatives, the government is building the Polavaram Project as per the designs approved by the Central government.
By Sri Lakshmi Muttevi Published on 30 Sep 2022 7:16 AM GMT
Polavaram: Union Jal Sakti Ministry has rejected the demand of the Telangana government to commission a fresh study on the impact of the backwaters of the Polavaram irrigation project.
The national project is being constructed on the Godavari river in Andhra Pradesh.
A virtual meeting of representatives of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Telangana was held to discuss Polavaram multi-purpose project.
The meeting was held after the Supreme Court had asked the Centre to clear the apprehensions of Telangana, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh over the submergence of villages in the backwaters of the project.
According to Andhra Pradesh representatives, the government is building the Polavaram Project as per the designs approved by the Central government.
The state has also constructed a spillway to handle 50 lakh cusecs of flood water. Officials said it would not submerge Bhadrachalam or any part of Telangana.
Earlier, the Centre had done a scientific survey in 2009 and 2011, which suggested that there would be no additional flood threat to any of the places in the other three states.
During the discussion, Telangana raised objections over the backwaters of the project, the backwaters of the project will flood the state. Telangana and Chattisgarh have asked for a joint survey of the project to assess the impact on Polavaram backwaters.
A week ago, Telangana special chief secretary (irrigation) Rajat Kumar wrote a letter to the Centre asking for a study on the backwater effects of the Polavaram project in the wake of massive floods in the Godavari in July.
"If the Polavaram project is completed, there will be an inundation threat to several villages in Telangana", he mentioned in the letter.
Speaking to the media, the Chairman of the Polavaram Project Authority (PPA) said that construction is being taken up only after the Centre approved the project design. He requested Odisha, Telangana, and Chhattisgarh to cooperate with Andhra Pradesh in the construction of the project.
Another meeting will be held on October 7 to discuss the technicalities of issues regarding the submergence of areas in the backwaters of Polavaram. Later a report will be submitted to the Supreme Court.
