VIJAYAWADA: Andhra Pradesh Water Resources Department Special Chief Secretary Shashibhushan Kumar has directed officials and contractors to maintain the pace of construction at the Polavaram Project and Hydel Power Project, stressing that there must be no compromise on quality standards.
He asserted that the project must be completed by February 2027, aligning with Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s goal of finishing the works by March next year.
Kumar instructed the Water Resources Department, Polavaram Project Authority (PPA), and contracting agency MEIL to work in close coordination with a structured action plan to ensure timely completion. He assured that any issues arising during construction would be resolved promptly if brought to the government’s notice.
The Special Chief Secretary, who stayed overnight at the Polavaram Project guest house, began his inspection early Friday morning. His field visit lasted from 8 AM to 1:30 PM, marking his first review of the project since assuming office.
He examined key components including the spillway, upstream and downstream coffer dams, diaphragm wall, fish ladder, depletion sluice, and the ongoing Earth-cum-Rock Fill (ECRF) Dam works. He also reviewed progress on the Polavaram Hydel Power Project.
Following a lunch break, Kumar resumed review meetings until 6 PM, going over the progress of each division in detail. Officials informed him that earlier shortages of diesel and materials due to the West Asia conflict had temporarily slowed construction, but the situation has now normalized. They assured him that work would be accelerated to meet the deadline.
