Meeting the targets in earthwork, rock excavation and other dam works, at this point in time, was crucial for timely completion of the Polavaram project, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said at the 35th virtual inspection and review of the project here on Monday.
Mr. Naidu has been reviewing progress in the project every Monday. He says that he will call Polavaram ‘Somavaram,’ the word for Monday in Telugu, until the project is completed. He conducts a virtual inspection from his office using CCTVs and drone-mounted cameras. He goes to the project site at least once every month.
The officials told the Chief Minister that the excavation work was fast coming to a close. Of the total 1,055 lakh cubic metres, excavation of 755 lakh cubic metres rock and earth had been completed and there was only 300 lakh cubic metres left to be removed, the officials told Mr Naidu.
The total earthwork completed in the past week was 3.15 lakh cubic metres, and the total concrete laid for the spillway and the stilling basin was 21,007 cubic metres. The diaphragm wall saw a growth of 2.2 metres along its entire length in the week.
Weather forecast
Officials from SHAR reported that there was good rain only in the previous three days. From July 21 to 31, the State received an average of 15mm. There would be substantial rain in the second week of August, they told him. Naidu instructed officials to procure water from the Tungabhadra Low Level Canal for Kurnool district.