Water Resources Minister Nimmala Rama Naidu has said the government is set to take the Godavari river water to North Andhra through Polavaram Left Main Canal (PLMC) by July this year as targeted by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.
Addressing media persons after holding a review meeting on the progress of the construction of the PLMC here on Monday, Mr. Naidu said tenders worth ₹1,050 crore for completing the canal works have already been finalised.
He said the Chief Minister was keen on supplying the Godavari water to the northern districts by July and keeping it in mind, the contractors expedited the works. The region’s irrigation and drinking water problems would be solved.
Mr. Rama Naidu alleged that the previous government had neglected the PLMC works during its five-year tenure. Moreover, the canal’s capacity was reduced from 17,500 cusecs to 8,122 cusecs to the detriment of the region.
The Minister claimed that the NDA government gave top priority to the Polavaram project and took necessary steps for its completion.
In spite of the financial constraints inherited from its predecessor, the NDA Government allocated ₹1,600 crore to the Uttarandhra Sujala Sravanthi Project, he said.
It was due to the YSRCP Government’s negligence that the diaphragm wall of the Polavaram project was damaged, and it had to be re-constructed at a cost of ₹990 crore. It is targeted to complete the diaphragm wall by December, 2025, Mr. Rama Naidu said.
For the sake of transparency and providing real – time updates on the project works, a website was being developed, Mr. Rama Naidu added. Special Chief Secretary G. Sai Prasad, Engineer – in – Chief Venkateswara Rao and other officials were present.
