Polavaram: YS Jagan seeks faster diaphragm wall repairs, slams Ramoji Rao’s media hypocrisy

POLAVARAM: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy on Tuesday asked the Irrigation Department officials to complete the repairs of damaged diaphragm wall of the Polavaram Project at the earliest so that the main project works could be expedited.

At a review meeting held at the project site here after inspecting the progress of works, the Chief Minister told them to develop the project site as a favoured tourist destination, by constructing a hotel and providing other amenities for visitors. He told them to construct a bridge at Polavaram.

Taking stock of the implementation of R&R package for the displaced persons, he asked them to provide all civic facilities and basic infrastructure simultaneously as the construction of colonies progressed. Officials informed him that 12,658 displaced families had been shifted to the newly constructed colonies.

‘Same media was silent on diaphragm wall damage during TDP rule’

Referring to the exaggerated media reports on the cracks in the guide wall, the Chief Minister expressed displeasure over a section of the media, making a mountain out of a molehill.

“The section of the media was silent over the damage of the diaphragm wall caused by the faulty construction of the upper cofferdam as the engineering firm left gaps in it. When the flash floods came, water gushed into the diaphragm wall through the gaps causing severe damage. As the diaphragm wall is the base for the construction of the main dam, the damage caused an extra financial burden of Rs. 2,000 crore on the project besides delaying it. The media was silent on this because the contract was given to the relatives of media baron Ramoji Rao by the previous TDP regime,” he told the officials.

The media is raising a hue and cry unnecessarily over the small damage caused to the guide wall, he said, adding that officials should take this seriously and go ahead with necessary steps as it was common to move ahead, undertaking repairs wherever necessary.

Officials explained that the designs of the guide wall had been approved by the Central Water Commission (CWC) and that it had been informed about the small cracks in the wall. They said that the repairs would be undertaken as per the suggestion of the CWC.

Officials told the Chief Minister that the works relating to laying of spillway concrete, construction of upper and lower cofferdams, concrete work at gap 3, arrangement of 48 radial gates, river sluice gates, tunnel work at the powerhouse, vibro compaction and sand filling at gap 1, transportation of sand to ECRF gap 2 area had been completed while the approach channel works were nearing completion.

They also told YS Jagan that they were expediting works to complete the repairs of the diaphragm wall by December.

The Chief Minister inspected the vibro compaction and sand filling works at the damaged diaphragm wall besides visiting the sites of upper and lower cofferdams. Officials explained about the increased height of the upper cofferdam and the details of the completed lower cofferdam. He was informed of the progress of ECRF works. He also inspected a photo exhibition of the dam works while officials explained the details.

Centre’s nod

Officials also informed the Chief Minister that the Union Finance Ministry had agreed to release Rs.12,911.15 crore for the completion of the first phase of the Polavaram Project. This includes Rs 2,000 crore extra expenditure caused due to the faulty construction of the diaphragm wall during the TDP rule. The Finance Ministry informed this in a memorandum sent to the Union Water Resources Ministry, officials disclosed, adding that the Centre had also given exemption from compound payment of bills as it was causing delay in project execution.