Jagan instructs officials to speed up R&R works of Polavaram Project

AMARAVATI: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jaganmohan Reddy on Friday directed Irrigation Department officials to focus on completing the Polavaram Project Rehabilitation and Relocation (R&R) works while developing a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to make the non-operational lift irrigation schemes operational by involving farmers committees.

The Chief Minister reviewed the various irrigation projects currently underway during a review meeting of the Water Resources Department held here on Friday. He then instructed officials to speed up the remaining work associated with the 3.4 km-long second tunnel of the Veligonda Project and give priority to building a barrage downstream of the Prakasam Barrage on the Krishna River.

The Chief Minister responded to the authorities' briefing that work in the Earth cum Rock fill dam (ECRF) at Polavaram Project, which is still managing 2.5 lakh cusecs of flood water, should wait until the essential soil studies on the seepage area and the strength of the diaphragm wall were completed.

The officials informed him that preparations were being made to lay the foundation stone for the lift irrigation scheme, which will pump water from Gotta Barrage into Hiramandalam Reservoir in December, and that the Tarakarama Teertha Sagar works in Vizianagaram district would begin in November. The officials stated that they have prepared revised estimates for the Mahendra Tanaya works worth Rs. 852 crores.

The Chief Minister instructed them to pay special attention to the maintenance and operation of all reservoirs and other irrigation projects after learning that nearly all reservoirs are full to 90 percent capacity despite the fact that several TMCs of water were released into the sea in the wake of non-stop rain.