Complete Polavaram project by October 2026, Naidu tells officials

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu inspecting the ongoing works at the Polavaram Irrigation Project site on Monday.
| Photo Credit: G.N. Rao

The Andhra Pradesh government has prepared an action plan and set broad deadline for various works, including completing phase I of the Polavaram Irrigation Project by October 2026.

The government will construct the project at a height of 41.15 metres in phase I and 45.72 metres in phase II.

“As per the Andhra Pradesh State Reorganisation Act 2014, the height of the Polavaram project is 45.72 metres. We will fight for it. The government will write a letter to the Centre”N. Chandrababu NaiduChief Minister

“As per the Andhra Pradesh State Reorganisation Act 2014, the height of the Polavaram project is 45.72 metres. We will fight for it. The government will write a letter to the Centre,” said Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, who inspected the diaphragm wall, gaps 1&2, and vibro compaction works at the project site on Monday. 

Project height

Later, addressing a press conference, Mr. Naidu asserted that the Union government split the project into phase I and II due to the letter given by the previous YSRCP government. It was a baseless allegation that the present ruling dispensation has decided to reduce the height of the Polavaram dam to 41.15 metres as against the sanctioned 45.72 metres. The Centre has sanctioned ₹12,157 crore for phase I, taking the 41.15 metres into consideration. About ₹2,340 crore was released of this amount. Based on it, the State government has set broad milestones, and officials were asked to prepare minutely key performance indicators, etc. The target is to start impounding the water in the project by 2026.

Deadlines set

Officials have projected that the project could be completed by October-December 2027. The government, however, has directed them to complete it by 2026. Construction of a new diaphragm wall will begin in January 2025 and be completed by March 2026. While the land acquisition is set to be completed by 2025, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R&R) works will be completed by 2026, he said.

The Chief Minister said that work on the Right and Left main canals of the project would be completed in the next one-and-a-half years. The works on gap 1 & 2 of the project would be completed by May 2026, he said.

The broad milestones were fixed for clarity for both State and Central governments, Central Water Commission (CWC), Polavaram Project Authority (PPA) and experts committee, he added.

Water Resources Minister Nimmala Ramanaidu and others were present.