Polavaram Project

BJD delegation meets central govt officials over AP's Polavaram project

A delegation of Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has met top officials of ministries of environment and tribal affairs in New Delhi and apprised them of adverse impacts of Andhra Pradesh's Polavaram irrigation project on livelihood, land and interest of indigenous people in Odisha's Malkangiri district, the party said on Thursday. The team met the central officials on Wednesday. The BJD delegation, led by senior leader and former minister Debi Prasad Mishra, had also met Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Paatil in the national capital on Tuesday and apprised him of the potential of submergence of large areas in Malkangiri due to the construction of the multi-purpose project in the neighbouring state. The team met Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Secretary Leena Nandan and submitted a memorandum to her, highlighting how the Polavaram project would cause extensive damage to the flora and fauna in tribal-majority Malkangiri district of Odisha. The BJD memorandum said, The Polavaram projec

Special allocations of Rs 15000 cr made to AP in Budget after 5 years: TDP

The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) on Tuesday said "special allocations" were made to Andhra Pradesh in the Union Budget after five years, citing "commitments" announced for the Polavaram Project, industrial corridors and others. In a post on 'X', the ruling party noted that Rs 15,000 crore funds were allocated for the reconstruction of Andhra Pradesh in fiscal 2024-25. "Rs 15,000 crore for reconstruction of Andhra Pradesh this fiscal, additional funds for Polavaram (Project) lifeline, funds for Vizag Chennai Industrial Corridor this year and special funds for seven backward districts," said the party in the post. Presenting the Budget for 2024-25 in the Lok Sabha, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the NDA government at the Centre has "made concerted efforts to fulfil the commitments" in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014. Sitharaman said, "special financial support" will be facilitated by the Union Government through multilateral agencies. "Recognising the ..

Centre agrees to sanction Rs 12,911 cr for Polavaram Project: AP govt

The Central government has agreed to sanction Rs 12,911 crore to Andhra Pradesh for completing the first phase of Polavaram Project, an official statement from the state government on Tuesday said. The union finance ministry has issued a memorandum approving this quantum of funds, officials said. "This is a result of the unrelenting efforts, negotiations and consultations by the chief minister with the Centre," the press note said. According to officials, the sanctioned amount of Rs 12,911 crore also includes Rs 2,000 crore to cover the extra expenditure caused by the allegedly faulty construction of the diaphragm wall built during the TDP government. Officials said that the finance ministry has sent this memorandum to the union water resources ministry, including offering exemption from compound payment of bills as it is causing project delay. On Tuesday, Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy visited the project site and comprehensively examined the progress of the dam works, ...

Polavaram project is synonymous with Y S Rajasekhar Reddy: Andhra CM

The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has no moral right to speak on the Polavaram project, which is synonymous with Y S Rajasekhar Reddy, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy has said. Accusing the TDP of not following the technical order in the construction of the project, Reddy said it ended up in the diaphragm wall getting washed away due to floods. TDP chief Nara Chandrababu Naidu has no locus standi to talk about the project as he never spoke about it between 1995 and 2014, the Chief Minister said in a statement on Thursday night. Intervening in a discussion on the project in the Assembly, he made these remarks, dismissing the propaganda' by media houses which found fault with the height of the project. The CM asserted the project will be built to its original height of 45.7 metres but in the first phase it would be limited to 41.15 metres owing to technical reasons and the safety of the dam. Incidentally, Reddy is critical of the media houses which are projecting Naid

SC notice to govt on plea alleging violation in Polavaram project clearance

The Supreme Court has sought the response of the Centre and others on a plea alleging violations in environmental clearance granted to the Polavaram multi-purpose irrigation project. A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and M M Sundresh issued notices to the Centre, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Odisha while seeking their replies. "Issue notice, returnable in the month of February, 2023," the bench said. The top court was hearing a plea filed by economist Pentapati Pullarao against an order of the National Green Tribunal which directed him to approach the apex court with his plea. The petition filed through advocate Sravan Kumar alleged that the NGT, without considering the report of the Joint Committee of the Ministry of Environment and forests, Ministry of Jal Shakti, the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board and the Polavaram Project Authority (Project Proponent), has abruptly closed the case. "It is the submission of the appellant that the allegations pertaining to violations

Polavaram project: SC suggests Centre to call for meeting of stakeholders

The Supreme Court Tuesday suggested the Centre call for a meeting of all the stakeholders to discuss and resolve the issues concerning the Polavaram project in Andhra Pradesh. The apex court observed it would be in the "fitness of thing" if the Centre takes an initiative in calling all the stakeholders so that the project could move forward and the concerns are addressed. A bench headed by Justice S K Kaul noted that there are concerns expressed by the states of Odisha, Telangana, and Chhattisgarh regarding the impact of the project in as much as it may result in flooding of certain areas. The bench, also comprising Justice A S Oka and Vikram Nath, also noted that it has been submitted that the project, as envisaged, has been expanded to a much larger extent and there are issues concerning environmental clearances as well on account of its expansion. The top court suggested that a "pioneering role must be played by the Ministry of Jal Shakti and a meeting be called of all the ...

Andhra CM meets PM, seeks approval of Polavaram project's cost estimate

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy on Monday called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and sought early approval of the revised cost estimate of the Polavaram irrigation project on Godavari river. Later, the chief minister paid a courtesy visit to President Droupadi Murmu. In his 40-minute long meeting with Modi, the chief minister discussed the Polavaram project and also demanded approval of the proposed Bhogapuram airport in Vizianagaram district, setting up of medical colleges and release of funds under different central schemes to the state government, official sources said. The chief minister has been demanding approval of the revised cost estimate of Rs 55,548 crore of the irrigation project as the state government is unable to take the rehabilitation and resettlement works forward as it involves a huge cost. Earlier, the estimated cost was Rs 35,000 crore for the Polavaram irrigation project which aims to irrigate 2.91 lakh hectares, generate 960 megawatt of ..

Completion of Polavaram irrigation project expected by December 2021: Govt

The ongoing mega Polavaram irrigation project in Andhra Pradesh will be completed by December 2021 as per the revised tender floated by the state government, Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said in Rajya Sabha. Responding to queries during Question Hour, the minister, however, said the completion of this project will depend on how fast the state government settle the issue of rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R). The proposed Polavaram Irrigation project aims to irrigate 2.91 lakh hectares, generate 960 MW of power, and fulfil water needs of industries and 540 villages in Andhra Pradesh. "...this project is being constructed by the state government. The revised tender floated a couple of weeks ago by the state government. As per the new revised tender agreement, they have given the date of completion of the project as December, 2021. So, I hope, by December, 2021, this project will be completed," Shekhawat said in the Upper House. Treating it as a national ...

Polavaram project likely to be operational only by mid-2019: Gadkari

The minister did not clarify whether the Centre would foot the bill of land acquisition, rehabilitation and resettlement as so far it had maintained that only the cost of irrigation would be met

BJD to step up protest against Polavaram project

The project is opposed by BJD as it fears that 15 revenue villages in Malkangiri will be inundated by the backwaters of the proposed dam

Odisha refuses to conduct public hearing on Polavaram project

It was pointed out that the public hearing should have been done before the Centre accorded clearance to the Polavaram project

Polavaram project hangs fire as Centre frowns over execution

A report by Union Water Resources Ministry says the project execution is not sound and safe under any parameters