Centre Approves ₹12,000 Crore for Polavaram Project: Andhra Pradesh CM

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu announced that the Union Cabinet has sanctioned ₹12,127 crore for the Phase-1 works of the Polavaram project, with completion expected by March 2027.

During a press conference in Amaravati recently, Naidu stated that the Centre will allocate ₹6,000 crore for the project in 2024-25, with the remaining funds to be released in 2025-26, based on milestones outlined in the plan.

Naidu emphasized the long-standing challenges the project has faced over the past four decades, attributing significant setbacks to decisions made by former Chief Ministers Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy and his son Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy. He criticized the Jagan Government for halting the project and initiating reverse tendering, which he claims caused delays and financial losses.

Naidu also highlighted the severe water scarcity faced by the southern states, noting that Andhra Pradesh is fortunate to have the Godavari and Krishna rivers. He pointed out that the abundant water in the Godavari River could be harnessed to meet the state’s drinking water and irrigation needs.

HBL