Naidu Calls for Completion of Polavaram by Oct 2026

Vijayawada: Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu on Monday called for execution of Polavaram irrigation project on a war footing to enable its completion by October 2026.

Naidu stated this during a visit of the project site at Polavaram village in Eluru district. He inspected the progress of works like raising the platform for re-erection of the diaphragm wall etc.

Naidu reviewed the works with the water resources officials and the executing agencies and announced an action plan with the schedule of works. The CM set time limits for the work on various components of the dam and asked the authorities to complete them before the scheduled date.

The earth-cum-rock-fill dam Gap-1 works are to be completed by the end of February 26 and its Gap-2 works by end Dec 2027 as per schedule, but the CM sought their completion by July, 2027.

As for the left connectivity that are set for completed by end February 2027, the CM wanted their completion by July, 2026 and the right connectivity by the end of April, 2026.

As the new diaphragm wall works are to begin from January 1, 2025 and be completed by March, 2026, the CM pressed for their completion by Dec 2025.

Naidu also called for efforts to complete the main dam works up to some level by August/Sept, 2026 and store some floodwater with the help of the upper cofferdam. Such water should be used for release to both the right main canal and left main canal for cultivation of crops in their respective command areas.

As for land acquisition, he promised to sanction the manpower. An officer of high integrity would be appointed to supervise the land acquisition, he said, and underscored the need to complete the process by June 2026.

Later, Naidu told the media, “We have set a target to complete the execution of the project by Oct, 2026.”

He said the drag in the past caused an additional expenditure of Rs 2,400 crore for works like construction of the new diaphragm wall at Rs 990 crore, the vibro compaction at Rs 836 crore, the soil filling at Rs 363 crore and dewatering at Rs 211 crore.

Naidu said, “We are expecting cost escalation in the execution of the project as the cost of cement and other materials would go up as also the labour charges.”

"When the Centre sanctioned Rs 8,242 crore during the YSR Congress term, it diverted Rs 2,334 crore and kept the bills of Rs 2,000 crore pending. During the previous Telugu Desam term, we had completed 71.93 per cent of the works while the next government could complete only 3.84 per cent of the works. At present, the total works completed was at 76.79 per cent, including the 1.02 per cent of the works done in the last six months,” he said.

The CM called for preparation of key performance indicators and the SOPs for taking up the execution of the project. In order to get clearances for construction of Polavaram dam at a height of 41.15 metres and at 45.72 metres, he called for making the plans from now on.

Earlier, he expressed displeasure over the excessive security arrangements made for his visit and directed the Eluru Collector and SP not to do so in future. “I want to be close to the people, party activists and the media persons.”

Naidu said the stoppage of tourism boats to Papikondalu due to his visit to Polavaram project was unwarranted.