‘Completing Polavaram on time is crucial’ 

POLAVARAM : Union Minister for Water Resources and River Development Nitin Gadkari said that the Polavaram project should be completed as per schedule fixed by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naid as cost of the project might escalate if delay occurs.He along with Naidu, State Governor ESL Narasimhan, Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Sujana Chowdary, reached Itukala Kota where a helipad was constructed for the visit in Polavaram mandal, on Tuesday afternoon.

The Union Minister directly reached the Pattiseema Lift Irrigation Scheme delivery point at Itukala Kota and offered prayers to the Godavari River and performed harathi. Later, he watched the exhibition at Pattiseema on the Pattiseema Lift Irrigation Scheme. Naidu and Water Resources Minister Devineni Umamaheswara Rao explained about construction of Pattiseema and detailed progress of the Polavaram project works. 

Centre to extend assistance
Speaking to the media at the spillway gate, the Union Minister said that the Centre would extend all necessary assistance to the Andhra Pradesh Government to complete Polavaram as it is important to the country also. He said that the project was taken up as national project only after Narendra Modi government came to power as the Prime Minister’s vision is to give water to the people and farmers. 

Gadkari said that Polavaram project was the lifeline of Andhra people, and Naidu was striving hard to complete the project by setting deadlines. “In view of the fixed time target, we have taken the project into consideration. We will execute things quickly. The Chief Minister’s target of December 2018 to release water is a big and challenging task,” he added. Governor Narasimhan said that Polavaram works have to be speeded up to complete the project in scheduled time and supply the irrigation and drinking water to the rural areas.

Ready to supply Godavari water
Naidu said by December 2018, the State government is ready to supply Godavari water from Polavaram project on gravity and requested the Union Minister to extend cooperation in this regard. The Chief Minister added that the remaining works would be completed on a war footing. “I have toured 20 times to the project site. This is the 21st tour. Besides this, virtual inspection and review meetings with officials are being held on a regular basis. Inland water management cooperation will be taken up for the development of canal system in the State,” Naidu added.