The YSRCP government has turned the Polavaram project, which is the lifeblood of the state, into a tragedy. The complete negligence of the project by YS Jaganmohan Reddy’s regime now burdening the state more than times of expenditure to complete the project.
The project said to be a `life line’ for the growth of Andhra Pradesh, which mainly provides water for drinking, irrigation and industrial needs of Visakhapatnam was completely shelved by the previous regime.
Change of contractors itself damaged the project to a great extent. Due to this, the works of the left canal have come to a standstill. If Rs.657 crores were spent at that time, now Rs.2049 crores have to be spent for the completion of works.
Based on revised estimates in 2016, the officials of the water resources department concluded that the left canal would cost Rs.3,645.15 crore. The previous Chandrababu Naidu government had spent more than Rs.2987 crores even before it came down.
It has been calculated that another Rs.2049 crore is needed to complete this canal. Contracts have already been canceled in many packages of the project and work has stopped in other packages.
Chandrababu Naidu, who inspected the project site soon after taking charge as chief minister, expressed grief over immense damage caused by the previous government for it.
Irrigaiton Minister Nimmala Ramanaidu reviewed with the officials how the works of the Polavaram left canal should be carried out. After the construction of Polavaram main dam is completed, water can be supplied to 4 lakh acres of Ayakattu through the left canal.
The canal flows through Konaseema, Anakapalli, East Godavari and Kakinada districts for a total length of 214 km. 560 villages will be provided with fresh water along the canal route. From the Polavaram project, this canal was dug to provide 84.808 TMCs for cultivation and 23.44 TMCs for industrial needs.
The work was divided into 8 packages. The first two packages were almost completed except for some work. In order to provide water through the Purushothapatnam lifts, the lion’s share of the first two packages were completed on a war footing during the Chandrababu government.
Godavari waters are diverted to Eleru reservoir through the left canal. In the first package, the contract with the contractors was already concluded. 15 more constructions are to be completed. Four and half kilometers of soil excavation and about 10 kilometers of concrete lining work are pending. In the second package only one structure should be completed.
Except for the third package, the work should be done extensively in the remaining five packages. At some places, aqueducts and bridges should be constructed across national highways. About 213 structures are to be constructed on this canal. A siphon should be constructed in the eighth package. Another 30 kilometers of canal should be dug.