The Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Shipping and Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Nitin Gadkari described Polavaram multipurpose project as a lifeline for the country.
Along with Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh N Chandrababu Naidu, he inspected Polavaram project site works and Pattiseema lift Scheme on Tuesday taken up on Godavari river in West Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh. Polavaram is being taken up for regulation of Godavari as well as to divert flood waters to drought prone areas. As Polavaram is an gigantic project, to protect the crops of Krishna Delta and Rayalaseema region, the State Government completed Pattiseema lI scheme in a record time of one year to divert Godavari flood waters to Krishna River.
They inspected the Polavaram spillway, concrete works and gates manufacturing facility at the Polavaram project site. Chief Minister briefed the Union Minister about the progress of project works. After inspection, Nitin Gadkari said, Polavaram project is important for the country. He expressed satisfaction over the Project works. “We will find new ways to further speed up the works”, Nitin Gadkari promised. “I hope that Polavaram will be completed by December 2018”, he expressed. “I have personally inspected the Polavaram project works over 20 times and made 40 virtual inspections so far”, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu told. “We will complete the first phase of Polavaram by December 2018”, he reiterated. Naidu sought full co-operation from the Central Government for the project.
Governor of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana ESl Narasimhan, Union Minister of State for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Sujana Chowdhary, Special Secretary to Union Water resources Ministry Amarjit Singh too accompanied them during the visit.
Polavaram is the prestigious multi-purpose irrigation project which has been accorded national project status by the Union Government.