As informed by the Andhra Pradesh Government, the works of its Polavaram irrigation project commenced in 2004 and are to be completed by June 2018.
In Andhra Pradesh, there would be submergence of 276 villages and 38,694 hectares of land affecting a population of 1,77,275. In Odisha, there would be submergence of four villages and 648 hectares of land affecting a population of 6,316. In Chhattisgarh, there would be submergence of eight villages and 795 hectares of land with a population of 11,766 being affected.
As per the information by the AP Government to the Union Government, it has sanctioned an amount of Rs 2051.52 crore towards implementation of relief and rehabilitation (R&R) for the project-affected families due to the project. Protective embankments, to be provided by the AP Government along rivers Sabari and Sileru in the territories of Odisha and Chhattisgarh, are expected to avoid any submergence and displacement of people in these States. Embankments are proposed for a length of 30 km (ie 11 km along river Sileru and 19 km along river Sabari) in Odisha and for a length of 29.12 km along river Sabari in Chhattisgarh.
The AP Government has agreed to provide protective embankments at a cost of Rs 621.64 crore. The information was given by Union Water Resources Minister Harish Rawat in a reply in the Rajya Sabha on Monday.