The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has no moral right to speak on the Polavaram project, which is synonymous with Y S Rajasekhar Reddy, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy has said. Accusing the TDP of not following the technical order in the construction of the project, Reddy said it ended up in the diaphragm wall getting washed away due to floods. TDP chief Nara Chandrababu Naidu has no locus standi to talk about the project as he never spoke about it between 1995 and 2014, the Chief Minister said in a statement on Thursday night. Intervening in a discussion on the project in the Assembly, he made these remarks, dismissing the propaganda' by media houses which found fault with the height of the project. The CM asserted the project will be built to its original height of 45.7 metres but in the first phase it would be limited to 41.15 metres owing to technical reasons and the safety of the dam. Incidentally, Reddy is critical of the media houses which are projecting Naid
The Supreme Court has sought the response of the Centre and others on a plea alleging violations in environmental clearance granted to the Polavaram multi-purpose irrigation project. A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and M M Sundresh issued notices to the Centre, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Odisha while seeking their replies. "Issue notice, returnable in the month of February, 2023," the bench said. The top court was hearing a plea filed by economist Pentapati Pullarao against an order of the National Green Tribunal which directed him to approach the apex court with his plea. The petition filed through advocate Sravan Kumar alleged that the NGT, without considering the report of the Joint Committee of the Ministry of Environment and forests, Ministry of Jal Shakti, the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board and the Polavaram Project Authority (Project Proponent), has abruptly closed the case. "It is the submission of the appellant that the allegations pertaining to violations
The Supreme Court Tuesday suggested the Centre call for a meeting of all the stakeholders to discuss and resolve the issues concerning the Polavaram project in Andhra Pradesh. The apex court observed it would be in the "fitness of thing" if the Centre takes an initiative in calling all the stakeholders so that the project could move forward and the concerns are addressed. A bench headed by Justice S K Kaul noted that there are concerns expressed by the states of Odisha, Telangana, and Chhattisgarh regarding the impact of the project in as much as it may result in flooding of certain areas. The bench, also comprising Justice A S Oka and Vikram Nath, also noted that it has been submitted that the project, as envisaged, has been expanded to a much larger extent and there are issues concerning environmental clearances as well on account of its expansion. The top court suggested that a "pioneering role must be played by the Ministry of Jal Shakti and a meeting be called of all the ...
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy on Monday called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and sought early approval of the revised cost estimate of the Polavaram irrigation project on Godavari river. Later, the chief minister paid a courtesy visit to President Droupadi Murmu. In his 40-minute long meeting with Modi, the chief minister discussed the Polavaram project and also demanded approval of the proposed Bhogapuram airport in Vizianagaram district, setting up of medical colleges and release of funds under different central schemes to the state government, official sources said. The chief minister has been demanding approval of the revised cost estimate of Rs 55,548 crore of the irrigation project as the state government is unable to take the rehabilitation and resettlement works forward as it involves a huge cost. Earlier, the estimated cost was Rs 35,000 crore for the Polavaram irrigation project which aims to irrigate 2.91 lakh hectares, generate 960 megawatt of ..
The ongoing mega Polavaram irrigation project in Andhra Pradesh will be completed by December 2021 as per the revised tender floated by the state government, Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said in Rajya Sabha. Responding to queries during Question Hour, the minister, however, said the completion of this project will depend on how fast the state government settle the issue of rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R). The proposed Polavaram Irrigation project aims to irrigate 2.91 lakh hectares, generate 960 MW of power, and fulfil water needs of industries and 540 villages in Andhra Pradesh. "...this project is being constructed by the state government. The revised tender floated a couple of weeks ago by the state government. As per the new revised tender agreement, they have given the date of completion of the project as December, 2021. So, I hope, by December, 2021, this project will be completed," Shekhawat said in the Upper House. Treating it as a national ...
The minister did not clarify whether the Centre would foot the bill of land acquisition, rehabilitation and resettlement as so far it had maintained that only the cost of irrigation would be met
The project is opposed by BJD as it fears that 15 revenue villages in Malkangiri will be inundated by the backwaters of the proposed dam
It was pointed out that the public hearing should have been done before the Centre accorded clearance to the Polavaram project
A report by Union Water Resources Ministry says the project execution is not sound and safe under any parameters