At a review meeting at the state secretariat, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu proposed the establishment of the Polavaram-Banakacherla Corporation to take the project forward.
Published Feb 14, 2025 | 8:44 AM ⚊ Updated Feb 14, 2025 | 8:44 AM
File photo of Chandrababu Naidu at the Polavaram project site in 2023. (Supplied)
Synopsis: Even though Telangana is opposing the project, the Andhra Pradesh government is moving forward with the Polavaram-Banakacherla project, which aims to interlink the Godavari, Krishna, and Penna rivers. The chief minister instructed officials to expedite the work and ensure visible progress before the next review meeting.
Despite strong opposition from Telangana, the Andhra Pradesh government is moving forward with the Polavaram-Banakacherla project, which aims to interlink the Godavari, Krishna, and Penna rivers.
The project is primarily intended to make Rayalaseema drought-free.
At a review meeting at the state secretariat in Velagapudi, Amaravati, on Thursday, 13 February, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu proposed the establishment of the Polavaram-Banakacherla Corporation to take the project forward.
He asked officials to conduct a feasibility study and revealed that discussions with the Union government on securing funds for the project were in progress.
The chief minister extensively discussed Polavaram, one of his dream projects. He stressed the need for the project to progress as per the targets set. He stated that the previous government had severely neglected the irrigation sector, and to rectify this and provide water to farmers, the works must be carried out swiftly to achieve the desired goals.
He emphasised that projects like Polavaram require daily reviews and monthly work targets to ensure steady progress. He warned that if the designated targets are not met, both officials and contractors would be held accountable. Naidu made it clear that he would not tolerate delays in projects that have received necessary approvals and funding.
During the meeting, officials gave a presentation on Polavaram, informing the chief minister that 1,379 meters of the diaphragm wall need to be constructed, of which only 35 meters have been completed so far, leaving 1,344 meters still pending. The chief minister instructed officials to expedite the work and ensure visible progress before the next review meeting.
He also stressed the need for left canal connectivity to the Polavaram project and urged officials to accelerate their efforts. He insisted that the canal’s capacity should match the originally designed capacity of 17,500 cusecs.
The chief minister emphasised that Polavaram, a project with all necessary approvals and funding in place, should be completed swiftly.
Naidu set a target to complete the project by June 2027 and stated that if, for any reason, it is not completed by then, it must be finished by December 2027 at the latest.
He further mentioned that by the time water is diverted to Visakhapatnam through the Polavaram left canal, the Uttarandhra Sujala Sravanthi Project should also be operational to facilitate the redirection of Godavari water to northern Andhra Pradesh projects.
Regarding the Veligonda Project, which aims to irrigate large tracts in Prakasam district, he expressed disappointment over the prolonged delays. He recalled laying the foundation stone for the project in the erstwhile united Andhra Pradesh and prioritising its construction between 2014 and 2019.
However, he accused the previous YSRCP government of failing to advance the project and instead using it for political purposes.
The chief minister announced the formation of a special committee comprising ministers from the Panchayati Raj, Forest, Irrigation, Agriculture, and Municipal Administration departments to study and propose strategies for groundwater enhancement and afforestation.
He proposed an integrated approach to water management by maximising reservoir storage and implementing best water management practices. The chief minister stressed the importance of collaboration among various departments to enhance groundwater levels and green cover.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
