Describing the project as the lifeline of Andhra Pradesh, Naidu accused the previous YSRC government of causing significant harm to it.

VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu unveiled a white paper on the Polavaram Irrigation Project during a press conference at the State Secretariat on Friday. He announced that clarity on the project's resumption timeline would follow the submission of a report by an international team of experts appointed by the Centre.

Describing the project as the lifeline of Andhra Pradesh, Naidu accused the previous YSRC government of causing significant damage to it. "The damage inflicted on Polavaram was so severe that the Central Water Commission (CWC) was unable to address the issue. Prioritizing project safety, and based on CWC advice, the Polavaram Project Authority (PPA) has engaged four international experts—two from Canada and two from the United States—to scrutinize the ongoing works and proposals from the State Water Resources Department," explained the Chief Minister.

Highlighting that only 3.84% of the project was completed during the previous regime's five-year tenure, Naidu alleged that the diaphragm wall at Polavaram had been extensively damaged due to imprudent decisions by YSRC president and former chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.

White paper aims to inform public about ground realities: CM

“The very existence of the project is now in jeopardy due to Jagan’s incompetence and arrogance,” Naidu added. He launched a scathing attack on the previous YSRC government, accusing Jagan of ignoring the Polavaram Project Authority’s (PPA) recommendations against changing contracting agencies and diverting Rs 3,385 crore in central funds allocated for the project. Naidu also alleged that the previous administration concealed ground truths and issued false statements regarding the completion status of the Polavaram project.

"Had the contracting agency not been changed, the Polavaram project would have been completed by 2020. The actions of the YSRC government led to losses totaling Rs 4,900 crore and a 38% increase in expenditure. The project delay resulted in a loss of Rs 45,000 crore for farmers," he said.

Detailing the project's current status, the Chief Minister stated that civil works progressed by only 3.84% from May 2019 to May 2024, compared to 72% during his tenure from 2014 to 2019.

“Regarding the Right and Left Main Canals, virtually no work was done during Jagan’s tenure except for clearing some pending payments. Work on the Distributory network under the main canals has not yet commenced. Even the Detailed Project Report (DPR) remains incomplete. Land Acquisition (LA), Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R&R) progressed a mere 3.89% in the last five years,” he added.

Additionally, he highlighted a significant reduction in budgetary allocations for the project from 2019 to 2024. He noted that the previous TDP regime (2014-2019) spent Rs 11,762 crore, while the YSRC government allocated only Rs 4,167.53 crore.

Naidu pointed out that no substantial progress had been made in resolving disputes with neighboring states like Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana, or in obtaining approvals for the second Revised Cost Estimate (at 2017-18 Price Level). “The first three units of the Polavaram Hydro Electric Project were slated for completion by November 2021. Failure to commission these units has led to the loss of over Rs 3,000 crore as of May 2024. This loss will escalate with project delays,” Naidu said.

He mentioned that repairs to the diaphragm wall, initially built for Rs 436 crore in 2018, now require Rs 447 crore. Constructing a new wall would impose a financial burden of Rs 990 crore, among other cost escalations.

Furthermore, he emphasized that the critical height of the project had been reduced from 45.72 meters to 41.15 meters. Nevertheless, Naidu stressed that there would be no compromise on the original height, crucial for hydropower generation.

Explaining the rationale behind releasing white papers on seven issues, the Chief Minister noted that the NDA government at the Centre would soon present the budget, necessitating the state's issues to be brought to its attention. Subsequently, budget proposals would be presented to the Assembly.

Urging the public to question Jagan on the harm inflicted on the state, the Chief Minister expressed his distress over the current state of the Polavaram project. “The white paper has been released to ensure the public is informed about the actual ground conditions.”

Highlighting Polavaram and Amaravati as crucial projects for the state, Naidu expressed optimism that their completion could partially reverse the losses incurred due to bifurcation. “The losses suffered by the state in the past five years far exceed those caused by bifurcation,” he remarked.