Polavaram Project took center stage during Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s meeting with Union Jal Shakti Minister C. R. Patil in New Delhi, where the Chief Minister sought urgent support from the Centre to fast-track the prestigious irrigation project and complete it before the 2027 Godavari Pushkaralu.
During the meeting, Chandrababu Naidu discussed several pending issues related to Polavaram and urged the Union government to extend full cooperation to ensure uninterrupted progress of the project. He emphasized that the project is crucial not only for irrigation but also for the long-term water security of Andhra Pradesh, particularly for drought-prone Rayalaseema and South Coastal districts.
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The Chief Minister informed the Union Minister that the state government is working with a clear target to complete the first phase of the project and enable water storage up to 41.15 meters at the earliest. He said he has personally reviewed the construction works five times to monitor progress and ensure deadlines are met.
According to Chandrababu, major construction activities are moving ahead rapidly. He revealed that the new diaphragm wall construction was completed by April 2, 2026, while key Earth-cum-Rock Fill Dam works in Gap-1 and Gap-2 are also progressing at a brisk pace.
One of the key requests made by the Chief Minister was the permanent withdrawal of the stop-work orders issued in 2011. These orders were imposed due to pending public hearings in Odisha and Chhattisgarh. Chandrababu argued that continuing these restrictions is delaying the project unnecessarily and requested the Centre to remove all administrative hurdles permanently so that work can continue without interruptions.
He also explained that the carrying capacity of the right and left canals had been increased to 17,500 cusecs, considering the growing irrigation needs of the state. The Chief Minister stated that nearly 95 percent of the right canal works and 78 percent of the left canal works have already been completed.
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Since the canal capacities were expanded beyond the original design, Chandrababu requested the Union Jal Shakti Ministry to reimburse the additional expenditure incurred by the state government. He also appealed for the immediate release of pending funds required for the next phase of construction activities.
Apart from Polavaram, the Chief Minister submitted another request seeking financial assistance under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) for restoration and modernization of irrigation systems across Andhra Pradesh. He said extensive works such as tank restoration, desilting of canals, strengthening of bunds, and modernization of irrigation infrastructure need to be undertaken under the “Har Khet Ko Pani” initiative.
The Andhra Pradesh government requested the release of Rs. 285 crore for the restoration of 297 water bodies across the state. Officials believe these works would significantly improve irrigation potential and water conservation capacity in rural regions.
The meeting also focused on interstate river water disputes. Chandrababu Naidu urged the Centre not to issue any gazette notification regarding the proposed increase in the height of the Almatti Dam in Karnataka until the Supreme Court delivers its final verdict on the matter.
The Chief Minister warned that raising the dam height from 519.60 meters to 524.256 meters could severely affect Andhra Pradesh’s water interests. He requested the Centre not to grant any technical or administrative clearances related to the project expansion.
Further, Chandrababu asked the Union government to direct Karnataka not to proceed with land acquisition and preparatory activities under the Upper Krishna Project Phase-III until the legal dispute is resolved. He insisted that the status quo should continue until the Supreme Court’s final judgment.
The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister also sought approvals for the proposed Polavaram-Banakacherla Link Project, which aims to divert nearly 200 TMC of surplus Godavari floodwater currently flowing into the sea. According to the state government, the project could become a lifeline for drought-hit regions of Rayalaseema and South Coastal Andhra Pradesh.
On the Vamsadhara issue, Chandrababu clarified that Andhra Pradesh would proceed according to the existing gazette notification issued for the Neradi Barrage project. He said the state plans to construct a right-side head sluice with a carrying capacity of 8,000 cusecs to meet Andhra Pradesh’s water requirements.
The Chief Minister also requested the Union Jal Shakti Ministry to direct Odisha to cooperate in land acquisition needed for the proposed infrastructure.
The high-level meeting assumes significance as Andhra Pradesh pushes aggressively to complete key irrigation projects and strengthen long-term water security amid rising agricultural and drinking water demands across the state.
