PNS|Polavaram
An international panel of experts began a detailed inspection of the Polavaram Irrigation Project on Monday to assess construction progress and offer technical guidance to Water Resources Department officials and executing agencies.
The delegation includes renowned specialists Richard Donnelly, Sean Hinchberger, Gianfranco Di Cicco, and David B. Paul. They examined key components of the project and reviewed its structural and engineering aspects.
Accompanying them were M. Raghuram, Member Secretary of the Polavaram Project Authority (PPA); senior officials from the Central Water Commission (CWC), including Sarbjit Singh Bhakshi, Rakesh Toteja, Ashwani Kumar Verma, Gaurav Tiwari and Hemant Gautam; and experts from the Central Soil and Materials Research Station (CSMRS), including Manish Gupta and Lalit Kumar Solanki.
The inspection was led on-site by K. Narasimha Murthy, Chief Engineer of the Polavaram Project, and Sateesh Babu Angara, Chief Operating Officer of Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Ltd (MEIL), the main contractor. They provided detailed updates on the project’s progress.
The expert team focused on the diaphragm wall, foundation strengthening, and the upstream cofferdam’s structural integrity. Soil stability and engineering quality were key aspects under review, with the panel offering suggestions for improvement.
The visit began with a high-level meeting involving the international team, department officials, and construction representatives to discuss methodology, safety measures, and project timelines.
Their findings are expected to contribute significantly to improving quality and accelerating work on this major national infrastructure initiative.
