The Capital News
Vijayawada: June 20 Andhra Pradesh Water Resources Minister Nimmala Ramanaidu has announced that a white paper will soon be released detailing the negligence and corruption of the previous government in the Polavaram irrigation project. Ramanaidu, who assumed office amid the blessings of Vedic pundits at the State Secretariat on Thursday, alleged that the Polavaram project, considered the lifeline of Andhra Pradesh, was supposed to be completed within a year.
However, he claimed that the previous government disrupted the project’s progress, delaying it by ten years. The minister accused the YSR Congress government of severely hampering the Polavaram project. He also alleged that funds released under reimbursement for work done before 2019 were diverted by the Jagan government to other needs.
Ramanaidu pointed out that chief minister Chandrababu Naidu’s decision to visit Polavaram as his first field visit after taking office indicated the priority given to the project. Ramanaidu highlighted the collapse of the diaphragm wall, a crucial component of the Polavaram project, attributing it to the negligence of the previous government.
He stated that a report from IIIT Hyderabad to the NITI Aayog estimated that repairing the wall would cost at least Rs 440 crore, while building a new one would exceed Rs 990 crore. A thorough review will determine whether to repair or reconstruct the wall.
The minister emphasised the need to strengthen the maintenance of various dams, shutters, and gates to provide immediate relief to the State’s farmers. He mentioned that his first official action was to sign a document aimed at removing duckweed from canals and drains, criticising the previous government for neglecting repairs of locks and shutters.