PNS | Vijayawada
Water Resources Minister Ambati Rambabu has credited Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy for the completion of various components of the Polavaram project, including the Lower Cofferdam, Upper Cofferdam, Spillway, and Approach Channel. He strongly condemned the false allegations made by opposition parties regarding the project construction.
Minister Rambabu highlighted that the previous TDP government had not completed the spillway, and it was undertaken and successfully finished after assuming power. He also said that CM Jagan Mohan Reddy played a significant role in completing the spillway, approach channel, spill channel, and pilot channels. Furthermore, he pointed out that the TDP government had left the works on the Lower and Upper Cofferdam unfinished, but under Jagan’s leadership, these works were completed by diverting the river.
The Minister denounced the baseless allegations made by TDP leader and PAC Chairman Payyavula Keshav regarding a supposed Rs 900 crore scam in the Rayalaseema lift irrigation schemes. He clarified that while the Rayalaseema Lift Scheme did secure a loan of Rs 900 crore from the Rural Electrification Corporation (REC), the actual amount paid directly to the contractors was Rs 739.5 crore.
Rambabu explained that thorough checks were conducted by field engineers, recorded in the M book, and quality control measures were implemented. After ensuring that all the works were done according to norms, REC visited the project on March 15, confirmed the compliance with regulations, and released the funds.
The minister affirmed that they had no objection to any probe, including one conducted by the CBI, regarding this issue.
The Minister said that the predicament faced by the Polavaram project was a result of Chandrababu Naidu’s careless decision-making and inefficiency. He alleged that Naidu had turned Polavaram into an ATM and held him responsible for the faulty construction of the diaphragm wall, which led to its collapse.
Minister Rambabu stated that Jagan’s government had given the highest priority to the Polavaram project, which was initiated by late leader YS Rajasekhar Reddy.
He mentioned that the YSR government had already invested Rs 4,500 crore in the project. While acknowledging that there had been some delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he reassured that CM Jagan had shown great dedication towards the project.
Minister Rambabu assigned the blame for the diaphragm wall collapse to Chandrababu Naidu and challenged him to prove his efficiency in its construction. He pointed out that Naidu had constructed the diaphragm wall without the necessary cofferdam and highlighted the correct sequence of construction, which involves building the diaphragm wall after completing the two cofferdams and confirming the working area. He stressed that Naidu’s decision to construct the diaphragm wall first was a historic mistake.
Regarding the diaphragm wall, Minister Rambabu stated that the National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC) had inspected the Polavaram project and would soon decide on the repairs or the construction of a new diaphragm wall. He affirmed, “The Jagan government is sincerely working on the construction of the Polavaram project, and I am prepared to prove Chandrababu’s mistake in the construction of the diaphragm wall.”
