Says completion of the project will pave the way for river-linking initiatives
PNS|Vijayawada
Minister for Water Resources, Nimmala Ramanaidu, emphasised the critical importance of the Polavaram Irrigation Project to the overall development of the state. Addressing a visiting delegation of international technical experts, the Minister described the project as a pivotal element in the broader mission of National River Interlinking.
Highlighting the strategic significance of Polavaram, Minister Ramanaidu stated that both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu had given special focus to the project, recognising it as essential to securing a water supply to drought-prone regions such as Uttarandhra and Rayalaseema.
The Minister met with the expert panel on Tuesday, urging their cooperation in ensuring the timely and high-quality completion of the project. He reiterated the government’s target of finishing the Polavaram project by 2027 and called on the team to assist in achieving or even accelerating this goal.
During the site visit, the Minister inspected key construction components, including the Buttress Dam, which is being built to strengthen the upstream Cofferdam, and the ongoing Gap-2 D-Wall works.
He held discussions with the Panel of Experts, seeking technical insights and reinforcing the urgency behind the project.
Minister Ramanaidu reminded the team that Chief Minister Naidu had prioritised Polavaram immediately upon assuming office. In fact, Naidu had visited the project three times in the past ten months and is reviewing progress every 15 days through high-level meetings at the Secretariat. This hands-on approach has led to a significant acceleration in construction progress, the Minister added.
He stressed that the successful completion of Polavaram would allow the diversion of Godavari River waters to water-scarce regions, playing a transformative role in Andhra Pradesh’s agricultural and economic growth.
At present, major components such as the Gap-2 D-Wall and the upstream buttress dam are being developed rapidly. The Minister appealed to the expert panel for expedited approvals of the pending designs for Gap-1, Gap-2, and other related works, noting that timely clearances are crucial to meeting construction deadlines.
Minister Ramanaidu called for coordinated efforts among the Panel of Experts, the Central Water Commission (CWC), the Polavaram Project Authority (PPA), AFRI, and other relevant agencies to ensure the project is completed ahead of schedule.
