Canada, US experts inspect Polavaram

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, under the TDP-led NDA government, has prioritised the completion of pending works at the Polavaram project. The project, facing delays due to technical challenges, has prompted the Central Water Commission (CWC) to seek international expertise to address critical issues.
Water resources experts from the United States and Canada visited the Polavaram project on Sunday. Four experts – two from each country – met with officials from the Central Water Resources Department in New Delhi on Saturday before arriving in Rajamahendravaram that night. The team inspected various aspects of the project site including the diaphragm wall, cofferdams, and the guide bund after discussions with local officials.
The experts are scheduled to remain at the project site until July 3, conducting a comprehensive review of the project’s design phase to its current status and ongoing works. Post their site visit, they will convene with officials from the Central Water Resources Department and construction organisations for further discussions.
The State government has enlisted the support of these international experts due to challenges stemming from previous administration decisions, complicating the project’s progress assessment over the past five years.  
The visiting team includes David P Paul and Gain Franco de Sikko from the US, and Richard Dannelli and Sean Hinch Berger from Canada, recognized for their expertise in dam safety, structural and geotechnical engineering.
The presence of these experts aims to provide crucial insights and recommendations to expedite the completion of the Polavaram project, crucial for the region’s water management and infrastructure development.