Despite Chandrababu’s Tall Claims, Polavaram Cannot Be Completed By 2018

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s tall claim that Polvaram project works would be completed by 2018 is just another pipedream after all. Whatever be his claims, the Union Government has categorically said that the project cannot be completed before 2021 under the present circumstances.

In a written reply to a question posed by Congress Rajya Sabha MP Renuka Chowdary, Union Minister of State for Water Resources Sanjiv Kumar Baliyan has said that only Rs 1900 crore have been spent on the project for the last three years. So far, only 24 per cent of the main canal works could be completed. Only 6 per cent of the works at navigation tunnel and OT regulator have been completed. As much as 96 per cent of works have to be completed to enable the water release.

Given the present pace of works, Polavaram works will not be completed before 2021. Even the dash board of AP Chief Minister Chandrababu shows that despite his tall claims, he too appears to have lost hopes that the project would be completed by 2018. Yet, the powers that be are making tall claims.

Here’s an excerpt from the Government’s reply: