No question of reducing height of the Polavaram project: AP CM YS Jagan

After inspecting the Polavaram project works, Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has held a review meeting with officials and contractors at the project site. It has been clarified that the water irrigation will be provided from 2022 Kharif. It was revealed that the height of Polavaram Dam has not been reduced by even a single millimeter. He said rehabilitation programs would be in order of priority and rehabilitation work would be carried out in the flood prone areas when the water level was initially stored at 41.5 meters. "Rehabilitation programs are estimated to cost at least Rs 3,330 crore," CM said. The CM directed the officers to be prepared for that. Officials told the CM that it would be completed by next February and March.

The chief minister said that the water should be provided by 2022 Kharif. He said that as Godavari river will receive water again on June 15, the works must be done on a war footing else there is a chance that things will be delayed by one season again. "The spillway and spill channel works should be completed by the end of May, at the same time steps should be taken to fill the gaps in the coffer dam by which the main dam work will move forward actively," CM said.

He said that the hydropower project works will also have to move forward at the same time and made clear that all these tasks must proceed in a planned manner. He reiterated that the project would not be reduced by a single millimeter. "The FRL level is 45.72 meters as prescribed while the top of the main dam level is 55 meters and should not believe rumours," CM said.