International expert team starts inspection of Polavaram project

RAJAMAHENDRAVARAM: An international team of experts on Sunday started looking into ways to resume the work of the stalled Polavaram project. After inspecting the coffer dams and diaphragm wall as part of the 4-day visit, a report will be given on the progress of the works.

The AP Government urged the team to find out the reasons why the Polavaram project stalled? What are the obstacles to the project? And how to resume work.

The team of water resources experts is examining the project to address key technical challenges in Polavaram. Four experts came from the United States and Canada. The team of experts held a meeting with officials of the central and state water resources departments in Delhi on Saturday.

Later in the night, the experts reached Rajamahendravaram and inspected the project site after meeting the officials at the Polavaram project on Sunday. They enquired with the officials about the project. International experts will be there for four days. The entire project will be reviewed in the next few days. A tour schedule is provided for each visit. The issues will be discussed in the next couple of days. This includes the heads of Polavaram Project Authority, Central Water Commission, Megha Engineering and Industries Ltd, Wapcos, and CSMRS.

This will be followed by discussions with expert agencies and international team of experts.

The move comes in the wake of the Central Water Commission (CWC) deciding that international expertise is needed to address the uncertainties and challenges posed by the Polavaram project.

As part of the study, the International Design Agency Afri will also look into project designs. They are joined by Americans David B Paul, Gias Franco de Cisco, and Cees Hinchberger, and Canadian Richard Donnelly. All of them are experts in key aspects related to the challenges in the Polavaram project. They have international expertise in dam safety, structural engineering, structural solutions, civil engineering, hydraulic structures, and geotechnical engineering.