VIJAYAWADA: The first phase of Polavaram project would be completed by December 2018 and water will be supplied for irrigation using gravity.
About 40.65 per cent of the project works have been completed so far and would be fastened once the funds approved by the NABARD are released.
Chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Monday gave a virtual tour for the AP legislators at the AP Legislative Assembly, using drone cameras which telecasted the works live from the Polavaram project site. He explained the ongoing works and various components of the project which would supply Godavari River water to various parts of the State. He said that upon filled to its full capacity, the Polavaram project can assure water supply to the entire state even if there is no rain for an entire year.
"Through interlinking of Godavari and Krishna Rivers, we are now able to turn Rayalaseema into a horticultural hub and also promote agriculture in a big way. About 40 tmc would be stored in Chintalapudi Lift Irrigation Scheme and divert them to Nagarjuna Sagar Left Canal. A barrage with a 10 tmc capacity will be constructed on the upstream of Amaravati to meet the future needs of Amaravati," the chief minister explained.
Principal secretary for water resources Sasibhushan said that after completion, the Polavaram project would not only enable Andhra Pradesh to divert 80 tmc to Krishna River but also supply 23.44 tmc to Visakhapatnam city as well as 540 villages en route. He said that 5 tmc and 1.5 tmc water would be supplied to Odisha and Chattisgarh respectively from Polavaram project.
Engineer-in-Chief Venkateswara Rao informed that the gates fabrication works are moving at full speed on parallel with the project works. Chief engineer Ramesh Babu said that the Polavaram project has received all permissions from the Central government and the quality inspection would be conducted under the supervision of the Central Water Board.