Ambati reviews flood situation at Polavaram, blames TDP Govt for delay in project completion

RAJAMAHENDRAVARAM: Irrigation Minister Ambati Rambabu reviewed the flood situation at the diaphragm wall and the spillway of the Polavaram Irrigation Project being built on River Godavari on Wednesday. He reiterated the YCP Government’s commitment to the speedy completion of the project.

Blaming the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) Government for the inordinate delay in the execution of the project, he said that the erstwhile Government failed to adhere to the protocol laid down by the authorities.

“I want to ask, why the TDP failed to complete the project during its tenure. The stipulated time to complete the construction of the dam in place of the coffer dam was three years. But the delay resulted in severe damage to the earthen structure,” he said adding that the TDP with the help of its friendly media was spreading canards to hide its mistakes.

He recalled that villagers from 54 villages marked for submergence had petitioned the Central Water Commission (CWC) that their lives would be in peril if the lower and upper coffer dams were closed during floods. The Minister also reviewed the impact of the heavy rains on the ongoing construction works at the project site.