MEIL looks to complete Polavaram project in 2 yrs

Hyderabad: With all the juridical and administrative hurdles cleared, city-based Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Limited (MEIL) is gearing up to complete Polavaram Project within a two-year timeframe.

The High Court issued a green signal and lifted the stay on the construction of Polavaram Project on October 31, a national project, said the company.

The Andhra Pradesh Government entered an agreement and set a two years deadline to complete the project. The project is intended to stabilising the ayacut and water supply for two crops in a year.

The 'Bhoomi Pooja' was performed by Satish, DGM MEIL, at Spillway block No.18 on Friday. The company will begin its works from Saturday.

Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, YS Jaganmohan Reddy cancelled the contracts and has preferred for reverse tendering for Polavaram headworks and hydropower station.

In this process, MEIL came forward to take up the works for a rebate of 12.6 per cent at Rs 4,358 crore. With this, the State government saved Rs 628 crore to the exchequer.

The State government invited the bid for Rs 4,987 crore. MEIL is the sole bidder for the project in the reverse tendering process.

The Polavaram Project is proposed to supply irrigation water for 7.2 lakh acres, 960 megawatts hydropower generation and lifting 80 TMC of water to the Prakasam Barrage on Krishna river.

It also aims to supply the 23.44 TMC of drinking water to Visakhapatnam. The project will solve the drinking water problem in 540 villages located in its surrounding area.

In 2005, then chief minister YS Rajasekhar Reddy awarded the headworks, right and left canal works awarded as package wise. He was able to get all the required clearances for the project.