Release funds: Chandrababu Naidu to Centre

Eluru: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu demanded the Centre to release pending funds to the State by approving the Detailed Project Report (DPR)-2 relating to Polavaram Project.

Addressing media at Polavaram Project site on Monday, the Chief Minister has said that the Centre has to pay Rs 2,900 crores to the State Government and it should release the amount immediately. He made it clear that the Power House construction would be taken up by State only and the cost would be borne by the State. 

He said that DPR-1 was prepared with a cost of Rs 16,017 crores. However, following the New R and R, Land Acquisition Act, the cost escalated to Rs 53,913 crores and the second DPR was prepared with Rs 53,913 crore and submitted to Centre for approval.  

In the first DPR, the Land acquisition cost was Rs 2,934 only whereas according to new Act it reached to Rs 33,858 crores. The Centre has to pay Rs 51,100 crores to Andhra Pradesh for the project as per the second DPR. 

The Chief Minister pointed out that the Central Cabinet had earlier   approved the second DPR and also agreed to implement it.  ``It should be implemented as per the decision, and it is upon the Centre’s shoulder”, he added.  After the announcement of the National project, the State Government had spent Rs 8,214 cores.

However, the Centre has paid Rs 5,342 crores only and remaining amount Rs 2902 crores have to be paid by the Centre. He had earlier requested the Centre to pay Rs 10,000 crore in advance before approving the second DPR, he stated.  

He reiterated that by December 2019, the project would be completed and the government will supply irrigation and drinking water to the people and farmers.  The main upper and lower coffer dams would be completed by 2019.

The Diaphragm wall construction would be completed by May this year. The Jet grouting works also would be completed by the end of May. The spillway, spill channel works would be completed by March next year.

Chandrababu Naidu reiterated that the TDP Government did not surrender the state’s interest which is mentioned in the AP Reorganisation Act. The Special Category status and the implementation of AP Reorganisation Act assurances are the right of Andhra people.  

He alleged that the Centre had obstructed the rights of the State.  He said that on April 30, he would question the Prime Minister who had assured Special  Category Status to AP and also implementation of assurances given in State Bifurcation Act. The announcement was made by the Prime Minister before Lord Sri Venkateswara in Tirupati, he added.