Andhra Pradesh government is ready to hand over the execution of Polavaram multi-purpose irrigation project to the Centre if it undertakes to complete the work by 2018, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said today.
Responding on the issue raised by YSR Congress MLA B Rajendranadh Reddy in the Legislative Assembly today, the CM said Polavaram has been declared a national project under the AP Reorganisation Act-2014.
"We can't sit at home hoping that the Centre will complete Polavaram even if it is declared as a national project. We are determined to complete it by 2018 so that water could be ensured to the parched Rayalaseema region," Naidu said.
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The YSRC member said there was confusion over the Polavaram project as the state government was claiming to be spending money on it whereas it has been declared a national project.
"The AP Reorganisation Act clearly states that the central government shall execute the project and obtain all requisite clearances including environmental, forests and rehabilitation and resettlement norms. Why is the state government spending money on it and seeking reimbursement when it is the responsibility of the Centre to execute the project," Reddy said.
The CM said his government was ready to hand over the project to the Centre "right away" if the latter assured completion of Polavaram by 2018.
"This is a crucial project in the inter-linking of rivers. The parched Rayalaseema region will get water (from river Krishna) if Polavaram is completed (on river Godavari). The Pattiseema lift irrigation project is the first step we have taken as part of this," Naidu said.
The state government spent Rs 1952 crore in 2014-15 on Polavaram project works of which the Centre reimbursed only Rs 345 crore, he said.
In 2015-16 fiscal, the state spent Rs 2485 crore but the Centre did not release any amount thus far, he pointed out.
Naidu said he had been taking up the issue constantly with the central government.
