Polavaram blues rock NDA boat
HYDERABAD: When Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu last week accused the central government of creating hurdles in completing the Polavaram project on river Godavari, many were surprised.
Naidu’s Telugu Desam Party (TDP) is a constituent of the Bharatiya Janata Party (Bjp)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and his criticism was uncharacteristic. However, those in the know say the CM’S harsh words were not unexpected. A lot is riding on the ~58,000-crore project. It will get water for drinking, irrigation and generate power, so Polavaram, and Andhra’s new capital Amaravati, are crucial projects for Naidu ahead of the 2019 assembly polls.
But the project is progressing at a snail’s pace though Andhra Pradesh has spent ~12,000 crore in the past 12 years, and Naidu is beginning to l ose patience. Declared a national project, the Centre is supposed to bear the entire expense under the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014, including cost escalations and rehabilitation of evacuees, who, as per an estimate, could number 1.8 lakh.
Officials say Naidu is frustrated as the Centre is releasing money only in dribs and drabs. The National Bank for Rural and Agricultural Development is to
(thousand million cubic feet) is the total capacity of the reservoir supposed to be built by 2018 (megawatt) will be the installed capacity of the dam towards generation of hydroelectric power First major river-linking project, it will take 80 tmc of water from Godavari to Krishna river of area in Krishna and Visakhapatnam districts will receive irrigation 2005 2017
extend loans, to be repaid by the Centre. So far, ~1,982 crore has been made available out of the ~23,814 crore to be given by 2020.
A common complaint heard in the Andhra secretariat corridors is that the Centre is raising a lot of queries before releasing funds.
Union finance minister Arun Jaitley’s statement that the Centre would bear the expenditure only for the irrigation component has also riled up Andhra officials. They also say the Centre has said if the project is not completed by 2018, its grant component will be converted into a loan.
Naidu’s efforts to speed up the project by calling for fresh tenders has been stonewalled. The Centre wrote to him in November, arguing against it on the
for land acquisition and rehabilitation and resettlement of affected tribals
ground it may lead to litigation and cost overruns. The opposition has stepped in, accusing Naidu of seeking kickbacks.
Andhra officials deny the allegation, but what remains undeniable is the project is in hot water as is TDP-BJP ties. “We’ve maintained utmost restraint because we are part of NDA. But it is testing our patience,” Naidu had said.