PNS|Vijayawada
Water Resources Minister Nimmala Ramanaidu has directed officials to fast-track major irrigation projects in line with targets set by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. Chairing a virtual review meeting from the State Secretariat in Amaravati on Tuesday, the minister called for the completion of the Handri-Neeva and Polavaram Left Canal projects by June 2025, and the Veligonda project by June 2026.
The meeting was attended by Engineer-in-Chief M. Venkateswara Rao, along with Chief Engineers, Superintending Engineers, Executive Engineers, and representatives of construction agencies.
Expressing dissatisfaction with the pace of work at the Handri-Neeva and Polavaram Left Canal sites, the minister said the current progress was falling behind schedule. He instructed that Phase 1 of the Handri-Neeva main canal be completed before the upcoming irrigation season and informed that the Chief Minister is likely to inspect the site shortly.
With regard to the Polavaram Left Canal, the minister criticised the sluggish progress and urged contractors to deploy additional machinery, including dumpers, excavators, batching plants, and rollers, to accelerate the works. He warned that failure to meet the deadlines would attract strict action.
Nimmala further announced that a Panel of Experts (PoE) would inspect the Polavaram project between 4 and 8 May. He asked the Chief Engineer to finalise the Earth-Cement-Rock-Fill (ECRF) dam designs before the visit and complete Gap-1 works ahead of taking up Gap-2.
Officials reported that 217 metres of diaphragm wall have been constructed at Gap-2 using two cutters and two grabbers, with a third cutter expected to be operational in early May. The Buttress Dam, aimed at reinforcing the upper coffer dam before the monsoon, is scheduled for completion by the end of May.
On the Veligonda Project, the minister expressed dissatisfaction over the slow progress of Tunnel-2 works in April. He instructed that tenders for feeder canal lining and retaining wall construction be floated within 10 days and that work begin immediately. He insisted that measurable progress be shown across all projects by the next review meeting.
