Vijayawada: The Centre has released Rs 2,705 crore for Polavaram project works. This is the second spell of funds release by the Centre during the current financial year. It had promised to grant Rs 12,700 crore as advance ad hoc grant to ensure early completion of the project.
The Centre released Rs 2,800 crore last Oct, the first tranche after NDA returned to power both in the state and the Centre. While Rs 500 crore was adjusted towards reimbursement of works already done, the remaining Rs 2,300 crore was part of the ad hoc grant. The latest financial assistance of Rs 2,705 crore takes the total grant to Rs 5,000 crore during the current financial year.
The speedy release of funds will help expedite the project works as the Centre has promised to release another spell once the state govt spends 75% of the released grant and submits the utilization certificates. “Chief minister Chandrababu Naidu‘s efforts are bearing fruit as the Centre is releasing the funds without much delay. We have already put the works at the project site on the fast track and are determined to complete the project by 2027,” said water resources minister Nimmala Ramanaidu.
He said state govt has taken the completion of Polavaram project to a prestige issue as it is the lifeline for the state. “The completion of the project will also help us set focus on other major projects, including the Godavari-Banakacherla scheme,” he added.
The Union govt is also keenly chasing Polavaram Project Authority to complete project as per the scheduled timelines. It wants no further delay in the works to avoid escalation of costs. The project cost, which was estimated at Rs 14,000 crore in 2004, has gone up to Rs 50,000 crore in the last two decades, a nearly 300 percent increase, due to the delay in the completion of the project. The completion of rehabilitation and resettlement colonies is also at a crucial stage. The state govt has said it would require at least Rs 15,000 crore to complete the R&R works.
In a move to expedite the project works, Union Jal Shakti ministry secretary Debasri Mukherjee has decided to review the progress next week. The PPA meeting will be held on March 17 and Central Water Commission will also convene another meeting with the project’s design wing on March 18. The Centre has convened another meeting to resolve the pending court cases against the project in the last week of March.
The Centre released Rs 2,800 crore last Oct, the first tranche after NDA returned to power both in the state and the Centre. While Rs 500 crore was adjusted towards reimbursement of works already done, the remaining Rs 2,300 crore was part of the ad hoc grant. The latest financial assistance of Rs 2,705 crore takes the total grant to Rs 5,000 crore during the current financial year.
The speedy release of funds will help expedite the project works as the Centre has promised to release another spell once the state govt spends 75% of the released grant and submits the utilization certificates. “Chief minister Chandrababu Naidu‘s efforts are bearing fruit as the Centre is releasing the funds without much delay. We have already put the works at the project site on the fast track and are determined to complete the project by 2027,” said water resources minister Nimmala Ramanaidu.
He said state govt has taken the completion of Polavaram project to a prestige issue as it is the lifeline for the state. “The completion of the project will also help us set focus on other major projects, including the Godavari-Banakacherla scheme,” he added.
The Union govt is also keenly chasing Polavaram Project Authority to complete project as per the scheduled timelines. It wants no further delay in the works to avoid escalation of costs. The project cost, which was estimated at Rs 14,000 crore in 2004, has gone up to Rs 50,000 crore in the last two decades, a nearly 300 percent increase, due to the delay in the completion of the project. The completion of rehabilitation and resettlement colonies is also at a crucial stage. The state govt has said it would require at least Rs 15,000 crore to complete the R&R works.
In a move to expedite the project works, Union Jal Shakti ministry secretary Debasri Mukherjee has decided to review the progress next week. The PPA meeting will be held on March 17 and Central Water Commission will also convene another meeting with the project’s design wing on March 18. The Centre has convened another meeting to resolve the pending court cases against the project in the last week of March.
