AP govt sets 40-month deadline for Polavaram hydel project

​Amaravati: Amidst uncertainty over completion of Polavaram Irrigation Project in time in the wake of clash between TDP government and BJP-led NDA government, the state government has decided to commence the works of Polavaram Hydro Electric Project and set a 40-month deadline to for its completion.

APGenco will conduct a kick off meeting on Friday to chalk out action plan for taking up the project works with all stakeholders. The 960 MW capacity of Polavaram hydel project was awarded to Navayuga Engineering Company Ltd for an amount of Rs 3,220.28 crore on EPC basis on December 12, 2017.  The Navayuga will complete civil and all electro-mechanical works and AP Genco will take up the remaining works. 

The state government has to bear total estimated cost of Rs 4,956.39 crore on its own as the project was not included in AP Reorganisation Act. Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) has agreed to sanction a loan amount of Rs 3,000 crore to the hydel project.  The Central Water Commission, in a recent report, observed that no construction plan for the powerhouse component in the Polavaram project was not made available to the expert committee of CWC so far and advised to prepare a clear plan for this component.     

According to AP Genco officials, the Navayuga, which has entered contract agreement with the government on December 17, will start the works in July month. But the government has already made advance payment to the Navayuga group on January 6, sources in Energy department told The Hans India.

As per ground reports, the AP Irrigation department has been executing hill excavation work at powerhouse site and it will take at least six months. The powerhouse works can be taken up only after completion of hill excavation works, AP Genco director Nageswara Rao told The Hans India. “We have to discuss the process with Navayuga and other stakeholders and chalk out action plan on taking up works. 

This will be discussed in meeting on Friday,” he said.  The first three units of the project has to be completed within 40 months from zero date (January 6) and the balance nine units at an interval of two months thereafter. Navayuga has engaged a sub-contractor- GE Power Private Ltd for electro mechanical works.

However, the decision of the state government to take up the powerhouse works has led to discussion. Though the state government is sincere to complete the Polavaram project works by end of 2019, it is facing several hurdles after the exit of TDP from BJP-led NDA government. 

A senior official of Energy department said, “There is no doubt that we will lose by completing the power house in case of non-completion of Polavaram project as per schedule. We can produce power partially if the ECRF dam of the project is constructed to Minimum Draw Down Level of 41.15 mts,” he said. 

The CWC has asked the state government to provide a justification for revised estimate of Rs 58,319.60 crore along with supporting documents. The completion of R&R is below 20 per cent so far. In this backdrop, there is some uncertainty over the timely completion of the Polavaram project.

By: K Vara Prasada Rao