PNS | Vijayawada
In response to YSRCP Rajya Sabha member V Vijayasai Reddy’s query about the Polavaram Irrigation Project (PIP), Minister for State for Jal Shakti, Bishweswar Tudu, revealed that the second Revised Cost Estimate (RCE-II) for the project, amounting to Rs 55,548.87 crore at the 2017-18 price level, was accepted by the Advisory Committee on Irrigation, Flood Control, and Multipurpose Projects of the Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, during its 141st meeting held in February 2019.
According to the Minister, the Government of Andhra Pradesh submitted the investment clearance proposal for RCE-II to the Polavaram Project Authority (PPA) in December 2020. However, the PPA requested additional information and compliance from the State government, including the undertaking of a socio-economic survey, preparation of a detailed project report for the distributary network, and formulation of a revised construction schedule. Despite repeated reminders, the State government has not provided the required documents and compliances.
On June 5, 2023, the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, communicated a no-objection to the provision of additional funding for completing the balance work of PIP, specifically for filling the water up to 41.15 m, with an allocation of Rs 10,911.15 crore. Additionally, Rs 2,000 crore has been allocated for repairing damages caused by floods in the PIP. These allocations are subject to the approval of the Cabinet, and the present no-objection does not exclude the proposed expenditure on the drinking water component.
In a significant development, the Department of Expenditure, Government of India, has given its no-objection to remove the component-wise ceiling for PIP. Furthermore, to avoid delays in reimbursing bills recommended by the Polavaram Project Authority (PPA) and Central Water Commission (CWC) to the Government of Andhra Pradesh, close monitoring is being conducted at the Government of India level.
