VIJAYAWADA: Even as the standoff between the Centre and State government over the release of funds for the Polavaram Project worsens, Union Water Resources Minister Nitin Gadkari has scheduled a visit to the project site on July 11.
A communication to this effect was received by the state government on Monday.
The BJP leader’s visit assumes significance as it comes in the wake of the TDP government submitting a revised cost estimate for the project (Rs 58,000 crore) to the NDA regime, as well as the ‘stop work’ order on the irrigation project coming into force.
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu recently shot off a letter to Gadkari seeking the release of Rs 10,000 crore in funds immediately, stating that any delay on the part of the Centre would lead to the venture not being completed on time.
Officials of the state government are confident that the Ministry of Environment and Forest will permit the State to place the ‘stop work’ order in abeyance for another year. However, speculation is rife that the strained relation between the Centre and the state government may dampen AP’s prospects.
“We are sure of a favourable response at the earliest as it is all just a formality. The state government will send documents required for permission and the Centre will approve the same,’’ an official of the Water Resources Department told TNIE.
Fifty-six per cent of the project has been completed, including head works, right main canal and the left main canal. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has instructed secretary Shashi Bhushan to prepare estimates of funds to be contributed by the Centre at regular intervals.
Emerging from the review meeting held by the Chief Minister, Water Resources Minister Devineni Umamaheswara Rao told mediapersons the project would be completed as per schedule. So far, `13,798 crore has been spent on the scheme, of which the Centre has reimbursed `6,727 crore to the State as against the `8,662 crore it bore in expenses.