Opposition creating hurdles to Polavaram: Naidu

Chief Minister to meet Gadkari on recent developments

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu inspecting Polavaram works on Monday.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Monday came heavily down on Opposition parties accusing them of trying to create hurdles in the construction of Polavaram project.

During his visit to the project site, Mr. Naidu saw progress of work and inspected ongoing work at the spillway. He held a review meeting with engineers and contractors.

Addressing the media after the meeting, Mr. Naidu said he was planning to go to Delhi and meet Union Water Resources Minister Nitin Gadkari on the recent developments in the construction of the project. “I am ready to take suggestions from the Centre for the speedy completion of the project,” he said.

Asked about the demand of Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan and others for a White Paper on the project, Mr. Naidu said there was no need for it as they were posting all details about the project on the website and updating the progress almost every day. He said some leaders were questioning how the government could provide water to Rayalaseema through Polavaram, but water from Polavaram right canal was the answer for their comments.

He expressed confidence that Centre would release funds at the earliest, and said that at present the Union government had to release ₹3,200 crore. He said that under the Relief and Rehabilitation package, the Centre had to give ₹17.18 lakh per acre each to 95,818 of the two lakh total evacuees.

‘Will speed up project’

Union Minister of Water Resources Nitin Gadkari said he would hold a high-level meeting on the Polavaram project after visiting it on December 22, and asserted that it would be completed at the earliest.

He told mediapersons in Delhi on Sunday that the officials had been instructed not to keep the bills pending lest the project gets delayed further and that efforts were being made along with the State for speeding up the multi-purpose project.