VIJAYAWADA: Determined to complete the works of Polavaram project notwithstanding the rift with the Centre, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has directed the officials to write letters to Union Minister of Water Resources Nitin Gadkari and Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, requesting them for immediate reimbursement of the amount spent by the State government on the project.
During the weekly review meeting on Polavaram and other ongoing irrigation projects with the officials at the Interim Government Complex in Velagapudi on Monday, the Chief Minister wanted the officials to continue to exert pressure on the Centre for the release of funds for the Polavaram project.
He also directed the officials to complete the development works of the colonies sanctioned to the displaced families.
The officials told the Chief Minister that out of the 45 proposed colonies for 16,687 houses, work has started on 38 of them and it is yet to begin in seven colonies.
Officials said that 15 colonies for 3,348 displaced families have been constructed in East and West Godavari districts.
The officials also said that the Polavaram Irrigation Project has reached an overall progress of 52.2%.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister congratulated the officials for taking up 5,000 cubic meters concrete works within a week.