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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Polavaram project mired in problems by M Venkateswara Rao

Polavaram project mired in problems by M Venkateswara Rao

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published Published on Nov 30, 2010   modified Modified on Nov 30, 2010

The ambitious Polavaram project, the multi-purpose project proposed across the Godavari for making optimum utilisation of water going waste into the sea, is mired in problems.

The much-talked about project, aimed at stabilising the century-old Krishna delta and irrigating over 7 lakh acres in the upland areas of East and West Godavari districts, is dogged by uncertainty since it became a bone of contention between different regions and faced with litigation. The design of the Rs. 16,000-crore project comprised construction of 150-foot-high earth-cum-rock fill dam across the Godavari at Polavaram to impound 194 tmcft water in Indira Sagar.

The project faced its first hurdle in the form of submergence of 12 villages with 17,000 population in Orissa and Chhattisgarh which did not conduct the mandatory gram sabhas for eliciting public opinion. The State government made an offer to raise the river embankment to nearly 20 ft over 60 km at a cost of Rs. 600 crore to avoid submersion and relocation of people in the neighbouring States besides keeping options open for rehabilitating the people, if they wanted.

The multi-purpose project, however, faced a challenge within the State as it would submerge 276 habitations in the tribal areas of Khammam district affecting 1.72 lakh people. The government offered to provide land for land and promised to ensure their rehabilitation within the agency at a cost of Rs. 2,000 crore. And, gram sabhas were held and compensation to the tune of Rs. 350 crore paid to the affected people who accepted it.

Barrage construction

The bigger dispute, however, was on the regional lines with Telangana leaders opposing submergence of habitations in Khammam. They are insisting on the construction of a barrage across the Godavari for diversion of water for irrigation and other purposes rather than a huge dam that would harm the natural habitat of the tribes. Construction of a barrage would minimise the risk of submersion and thereby, issues relating to the rehabilitation of tribals, they argue advising the government to consult experts for their advice on their alternatives.

The coastal Andhra leaders, however, argue to the contrary claiming that dam at Polavaram would enable optimum utilisation of water. They want their Telangana counterparts to insist on a better rehabilitation package for the affected families rather than seeking a total change in the design at this juncture.

Andhra leaders are citing the expenditure incurred by the government in completing 60 per cent of the work taken up in anticipation of clearances as well as the national project status to the project. In addition to amounts paid for compensation and other works, the government had spent Rs. 3,320 crore so far on canal works.

Works on spillway and dam were also taken up, but they were halted abruptly as the Central Water Commission wanted a change in the design to discharge 50 lakh cusecs instead of 36 lakh cusecs planned before.


The Hindu, 1 December, 2010, http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/article924563.ece


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