Union Water Resources Minister C R Patil has given green signal for the construction of a new diaphragm wall at Polavaram project after he held discussions with Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on Friday evening.
Naidu, along with Union Ministers Rammohan Naidu, Pemmasani Chandrasekhar, State Water Resources Minister Nimmala Ramanaidu and many MPs held discussions with the union minister on early completion of Polavaram project. He urged the Center for early release of funds for the project.
He also asked for the approval of the revised estimates regarding the Polavaram project. Minister Nimmala Ramanaidu said the Union Minister had taken a key decision to construct a new diaphragm wall in place of the destroyed diaphragm wall. He said that it has been decided to give the tender to the agency that won the tender in 2022 so that to speed up the Polavaram works.
He said that they have decided to give the tender at the prices finalized in 2022. He said that the responsibility for the construction of 73,000 square meters will be entrusted to the same company which has tendered Rs.390 crore for the construction of 29,000 square meters in 2022 for the repairs of the washed diaphragm wall.
As the delay in the construction of Polavaram increases, leading to increase in cost of materials, the minister said that they have discussed the measures to be taken in this regard.
Ramanaidu said that it would be better if the construction of the project was continued with a single organization, and the burden would be reduced and the agency that had undertaken the work would be responsible.
He said that if the agencies keep changing, the construction will be delayed. He alleged that the work was delayed due to the change of agency by the previous government and the construction of the project was delayed due to reverse tenders. He expressed anger that Polavaram works and development were destroyed due to the negligence of the YSRCP government.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday evening . After that, he will meet separately with the Home and Finance Ministers. The CM’s visit has gained importance in the context of meeting the Prime Minister for the first time after the Union Budget.