YS Jagan asks irrigation officials to complete Polavaram pending works in time

AMARAVATHI: Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy conducted a comprehensive review meeting to assess the progress of various irrigation projects in the state on Monday. During the meeting, he specifically emphasised the importance of focusing on the left main canal of the Polavaram, Veligonda, Vamsadhara, and Owk projects.

Regarding the Polavaram project, the Chief Minister directed the irrigation department officials to prioritise the construction of the left main canal while expediting the work on the main dam. Officials provided updates, stating that sand filling and vibro-compaction work at gap 1 of the Earth-cum-Rock fill (ECRF) dam has been completed, and similar work at gap 2 was underway. They also mentioned that an expert committee from the Central Water Commission and the Ministry of Jal Shakti had inspected the cracks in the guide bund and attributed them to changes in soil nature. The committee recommended filling up the cracks and promised to make final recommendations following a detailed analysis.

The officials informed the Chief Minister that the Union Finance Ministry had approved the release of Rs. 12,911.15 crore for the completion of Phase 1 of the Polavaram Project. Various ministries are now preparing a Cabinet note for further approval. Additionally, they reported that out of 20,946 displaced families, 12,658 had already been shifted to the R&R colonies, and efforts were underway to relocate the remaining 8,288 families.

Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy also reviewed the progress of the Veligonda, Vamsadhara, and Avuku projects. He urged officials to devise an action plan to accelerate the construction of priority projects, conducting regular reviews every fortnight. Noteworthy updates included the completion of the second tunnel of the Owk project, with lining work in the final stages. Arrangements were being made to divert 20,000 cusecs of Krishna floodwaters to Rayalaseema through this tunnel, scheduled for launch in August. Furthermore, the second tunnel head regulator of the Pula Subbaiah Veligonda Project was reported to be 92.14% complete, with tunnel works reaching 17,461 meters out of a total length of 18,787 meters. Works related to the Gottipadu dam, Kakarla dam, Tigaleru approach channel, Tigaleru head regulator, and eastern main canal head regulator, all part of the Veligonda project, were also nearing completion, officials informed the Chief Minister.

CM YS Jagan urged officials to expedite the remaining works so that water could be released promptly. Moreover, he reviewed the progress of the Thotapalli Barrage, Mahendra Tanaya reservoir, and Tarakarama Theertha Sagar works. He specifically instructed officials to accelerate the lift irrigation scheme, which supplies water to the Hiramandalam reservoir from the Gotta barrage. The officials reported that the distributor network for stage 2 under phase 2 of the Vamsadhara project would be completed before December, and the Kuppam branch canal works were in the final stages. They also assured the Chief Minister that water was being released to farmers as per the irrigation calendar, benefiting the ayacuts of Godavari, Krishna delta, and Thotapalli.