The Andhra Pradesh government has initiated measures to revive the Polavaram irrigation project. A team of international experts commenced a field-level review on Sunday, to assess the resumption of construction work and address the hurdles encountered. The team is conducting inspections of the coffer dams and diaphragm wall as part of their four-day visit. A comprehensive report will subsequently be submitted to the government detailing the project’s current status.
Chief minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu has already released a white paper highlighting the policies implemented by the privious government regarding the Polavaram project and their detrimental effects. The involvement of international experts follows the Central Water Commission’s decision, which underscored the necessity of global expertise to resolve the uncertainties and significant challenges plaguing the project.
Four experts from the United States and Canada initially met with officials from the Central and State Water Resources Departments in Delhi. Following this, they traveled to Rajahmundry to confer with officials at the Polavaram project site. The experts have now commenced their work on-site in Polavaram, where they will remain for four days.
The first two days will involve a meticulous examination of the project structures, guided by a detailed inspection schedule. The following two days will be dedicated to brainstorming sessions aimed at devising solutions to the identified problems. Key participants in these discussions include the chiefs of the Polavaram Project Authority, experts from the Central Water Commission, representatives from CSMRS, WAPCOS, Baver, Keller, Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Limited (MEIL), and the international design firm AFCONS.
The panel of international experts will engage with various agencies and experts to address the challenges. As part of this initiative, the international design agency AFCONS has been enlisted to create new designs. The team includes David B. Paul from the United States and Gias Franco de Cisco, Sees Hinchberger, and Richard Donnelly from Canada, all of whom are recognized for their expertise in critical aspects relevant to the Polavaram project. Their selection by the Central Water Commission is based on their international proficiency in dam safety, structural engineering, civil engineering, hydraulic structures, and geotechnical engineering.