Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has sought timely central funding and the resolution of inter-state clearances for the Polavaram project during a meeting with Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil in New Delhi. Naidu also briefed the minister on rural drinking-water works estimated at Rs 30,000 crore and requested prompt fund releases linked to construction progress.
The meeting took place during Naidu’s two-day visit to Delhi. He told Patil that work on Polavaram was progressing rapidly, with the state aiming to complete the project and dedicate it to the nation by the time of the next Godavari Pushkarams. The Chief Minister also raised long-pending issues involving Odisha and Chhattisgarh, which are connected to protective embankments planned as part of the project.
Naidu requested the permanent withdrawal of the Stop Work Order issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change over pending public hearings for the embankments in Odisha and Chhattisgarh. According to the account of the meeting, the order is currently in abeyance. Naidu asked the Union ministry to coordinate with both state governments and help expedite the public-hearing process.
He also proposed a meeting of the Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Chhattisgarh under the chairmanship of the Union Jal Shakti Ministry. Naidu said the issues could be settled through cooperation, coordination and a spirit of give-and-take among the three states. No schedule for such a meeting was announced.
Rehabilitation and resettlement was another focus of the discussions. Naidu said works required for impounding water up to the 41.15-metre contour at Polavaram were being expedited, while the state government was giving equal priority to the problems of displaced families and to project construction. He also sought assurance that funds would not fall short for Polavaram and discussed the works required to impound water up to the 45.72-metre contour.
The Chief Minister told Patil that large quantities of Godavari floodwater were flowing into the sea and referred to efforts to divert and use the water through the Pattiseema project. He also discussed plans to develop Polavaram as a major tourism and spiritual destination.
Naidu separately outlined the state government’s drinking-water programme under the Jal Jeevan Mission and Amarajeevi Jaladhara works recently launched at Proddatur. Andhra Pradesh has around 95 lakh rural households, of which 62 lakh already have tap-water connections, he said. Foundation stones have been laid for works intended to provide connections to another 27 lakh rural households.
The Chief Minister asked the Union Jal Shakti Minister to ensure prompt release of funds for these works in line with their progress. The meeting also covered the potential benefits of interlinking rivers in the southern states. The next stated steps are coordination among the Centre and the governments of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Chhattisgarh, alongside continued rehabilitation, construction and drinking-water works in Andhra Pradesh.
