Approval Given for Polavaram Project’s Phase-1 at 41.15m, Rajya Sabha Told
This was to be done by March, 2026 subject to an extension by a year. The balance central grants for the project is limited to `12,157.53 crore.
Vijayawada:The Central government has informed the Rajya Sabha that it has approved the revised cost for completion of the Polavaram irrigation project under phase-1 with storage upto elevation level +41.15 metres, which involved Rs 30,436.95 crore at the 2023 price level.
This was to be done by March, 2026 subject to an extension by a year. The balance central grants for the project is limited to Rs 12,157.53 crore.
R. Krishnaiah, MP, raised several unstarred questions in the Rajya Sabha on the progress of Polavaram, to which the jal shakti minister of state replied on Monday. He said the central government has released funds for the project to an extent of Rs 12,620.53 crore in the last five years. The break-up is as follows: 2021-22-Rs 1,898.80 crore; 2022-23-Rs 1,671.23 crore; 2023-24-Rs 727.88 crore; 2024-25-Rs 5,512.40 crore and 2025-26-Rs 2,810.22 crore.
As for the progress in taking up works on the spillway, earth-cum-rock fill dam and canals, the following are the rates of completion: spillway- earthwork-96.87 per cent, concrete-98.84 cent and steel-92.95 per cent.
For the earth-cum-rock fill dam and connectivities: Earthwork-75.56 per cent, concrete-81.99 per cent and steel-81.31 per cent. For the main canals-earthwork-98.96 per cent; concrete-88.44 per cent; and steel-55.68 per cent.
The total number of project displaced families (PDF) is 96,660 due to the construction of the Polavaram project and the number of PDFs under phase-1 (up to elevation level 41.15 m) who have been physically shifted is 17982.
An amount of Rs 1,373.01 crore has been disbursed towards R and R cash and entitlements and Rs 1,581.08 crore incurred on execution of the R and R works.
