Mon Dec 16 13:51:22 UTC 2024: ## Andhra Pradesh Sets Ambitious Timeline for Polavaram Dam Completion

**Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh –** Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has announced an ambitious plan to complete Phase I of the Polavaram Irrigation Project by October 2026. Inspecting the project site on Monday, Mr. Naidu stated that the project will be built to a height of 41.15 meters in Phase I, and 45.72 meters in Phase II, as mandated by the Andhra Pradesh State Reorganisation Act 2014.

The Chief Minister refuted claims that the government is reducing the dam’s height, attributing the phased approach to a letter submitted by the previous YSRCP government. He confirmed that the central government has allocated ₹12,157 crore for Phase I, with ₹2,340 crore already released.

A detailed action plan with key performance indicators has been established, targeting water impounding by 2026. While officials project completion by October-December 2027, the government has set a deadline of 2026. Key milestones include completing a new diaphragm wall by March 2026, land acquisition by 2025, and Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R&R) works by 2026. The main canals are expected to be finished within the next 18 months, and work on gaps 1 & 2 by May 2026.

Mr. Naidu emphasized that these milestones have been established for transparency and coordination with the central government, the Central Water Commission (CWC), the Polavaram Project Authority (PPA), and expert committees. The Chief Minister further stated that the government will write to the Centre to reaffirm the project’s intended height of 45.72 meters.

Read More