Cabinet move to accelerate execution of Polavaram irrigation project

The State Cabinet, chaired by Chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, on Friday approved a series of strategic interventions to accelerate the execution of the Polavaram Irrigation Project.

The decisions are aimed at resolving long-standing contractual and technical bottlenecks that delayed critical water infrastructure for nearly two decades.

Disclosing the details, Information and Public Relations Minister Kolusu Parthasarathy said the Cabinet authorised an additional ₹24.51 crore for Package No. 64 of the project’s headworks.

This funding was specifically allocated for the procurement of an additional gantry crane. Utilising a single crane had been a significant limitation, creating a bottleneck in the construction of the 880-metre twin tunnels, which were engineered to divert 2 tmc ft of water daily. The additional crane would allow for parallel construction activities, a necessary step to meet the State government’s target of completing the works by June 2026, the Minister said.

In a move to resolve chronic delays in the Polavaram Left Main Canal (LMC) network, the Cabinet approved the “pre-closure” of legacy contracts for packages 8, 8A, and 8B.

These projects, which were essential for securing reliable water supply for the industrial and urban needs of Visakhapatnam, had been stalled since 2005. Government reports indicate that the previous execution phase was hindered by significant issues, including submission of fraudulent bank guarantees by earlier contractors and a fundamental shift in design requirements, moving from open canal layouts to pipeline delivery systems, he said.

Under the Cabinet’s new directive, these fragmented legacy agreements had been formally terminated. To restart the process, the remaining components of packages 8, 8A, and 8B were consolidated into a single tender.

This work would be executed under an LS (Lump Sum) contract mode, utilising the 2024-25 Schedule of Rates (SoR). “The government has allocated ₹76.87 crore for this purpose, with officials noting that the new tender structure is designed to reflect current market valuations and modernise project delivery, effectively distancing the project from the legal and operational liabilities that persisted under the previous contract frameworks,” the Minister added.