Polavaram AP’s lifeline: CM

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has reaffirmed that the Polavaram project, considered the State’s lifeline, will only be inaugurated after the complete rehabilitation of those displaced by the project.
“Rehabilitation of all the displaced will be completed before water is released from the project. The project will be inaugurated only after that,” the Chief Minister stated during his visit to Polavaram on Thursday. He also inspected the ongoing construction through an aerial survey.
Addressing the displaced families, Chandrababu criticised the previous YSRCP government for neglecting their welfare. He noted that after the TDP-led NDA came to power in 2014, Rs 4,311 crore was disbursed as compensation. However, during the YSRCP tenure from 2019 to 2024, no compensation was provided, he alleged.
“Since the TDP-led NDA returned to power in 2024, Rs 829 crore has already been deposited in the accounts of the displaced,” Chandrababu stated. He questioned whether former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy had fulfilled his promise of paying Rs 10 lakh compensation to each displaced family.
The Chief Minister also highlighted the merger of seven mandals from Telangana into Andhra Pradesh to facilitate the Polavaram project, crediting his government for convincing the Prime Minister to approve the merger.
Criticising the previous administration’s handling of the project, the CM blamed their negligence for the collapse of the diaphragm wall, which was built at a cost of Rs 400 crore. He revealed that the new diaphragm wall under construction will cost Rs 990 crore. “Had we been re-elected in 2019, the project would have been completed by 2020,” he asserted, expressing concern over rising costs due to the delay.
The Chief Minister stressed the need for transparency and accountability in public spending. “Every rupee of public money should benefit the people and not be misused,” he said, recalling that during his previous tenure, he personally visited the project site 33 times and dedicated every Monday to monitoring Polavaram’s progress.
The CM assured the displaced families that the rehabilitation process will be completed by 2027 without interference from middlemen. He acknowledged complaints about some names being omitted from the beneficiary list and promised to address the issue after a thorough inquiry. “Compensation will be provided to all eligible families and justice will be ensured,” he pledged.
He further accused the previous government of diverting Central funds meant for the Polavaram project. “Had the project been completed on time, the displaced families would have been resettled by now and the State would have earned Rs 2,500 crore in revenue from the hydropower project,” he remarked.
Chandrababu Naidu also promised additional support for the displaced, particularly for tribal communities who, he acknowledged, made significant sacrifices. “We will provide an additional Rs 75,000 to tribals who want to build their own houses,” he announced.
Concluding his address, the Chief Minister urged the displaced to remain confident and assured them of the government’s full commitment to their welfare. “This is your government, a regime for all of us,” he declared, promising further steps to increase revenue and improve living standards for the affected communities.