Naidu to seek funds from centre for Polavaram project

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is likely to write a letter to Centre for the release of funds for Polavaram Project being constructed across the Godavari river.

The chief minister conducted a virtual review meeting on the progress of the project in Amaravati on Monday.

He also directed the irrigation officials to speed up the work to complete the project on time. As a meeting was going on in Delhi on the same project, he directed the officials to get the necessary clearances immediately. He said that radial gates should be ready as per schedule on December 17 and the rehabilitation package works should be completed by January first week.

As on Monday, 61.03 % of project work has been completed including 81% on earth works, 48.60 % concrete works, 90 % left main canal works, 65.54 % right main canal works, 61.94 % radial gates works were completed.

The Union government has to reimburse Rs 3,162.32 crore for the project work completed so far.

The Andhra Pradesh government has already expressed displeasure over the undue delay in granting permissions to the national project. The irrigation officials in Amaravati rued that the Centre has recently dashed a long list of queries on the R and R package citing several alleged discrepancies. They said that the Center has been creating several hurdles by raking up issues that are not important to project.