Polavaram project to be ready in three years

The multi-purpose Polavaram project, being taken up with a cost of Rs 10,151.04 crore including land compensation and resettlement and rehabilitation package in West Godavari, will be completed within three years, said Andhra Pradesh chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy.

Reddy said the project, which has received all clearances, would irrigate a total ayacut of 720,000 acres utilising 273 TMC (thousand million cubic metre) of water.

“The project will ensure drinking water to 540 villages benefiting 2.85 million people besides providing 23.5 TMC of water for the industry. It also provides diversion of 80 TMC to Krishna delta, in a first-of-its-kind irrigation initiative linking two major rivers of the south,” he told a group of coastal leaders, who called on him on Sunday.

Reddy said Rs 1,000 crore was provided in the Budget for 2008-09. The cumulative expenditure so far is Rs 2,239 crore while the agreement value of works is Rs 5,383.55 crore.

This is claimed to be the only project, which can help backward areas of all the three regions in the state — Andhra, Telangana and Rayalaseema.

“The Centre has come forward to compliment the state government’s hardwork by assuring to provide over Rs 200 crore, of which immediate releases to the tune of Rs 170 crore is expected any time. While the rehabilitation to 277 villages covers 177,000 people, submersion of forest land is 3,731 hectare and wild life sanctuary is 187.29 hectare,” he said.