Polavaram Project

The Polavaram Project is an under construction multi-purpose irrigation National project on the Godavari River in the West Godavari District and East Godavari District in Andhra Pradesh. The project has been accorded national project status by the Union Government of India[2][3] and will be the last to be accorded the status.[4] Its reservoir back water spreads [5] up to the Dummugudem Anicut (i.e. approx 150 km back from Polavaram dam on main river side) and approx 115 km on Sabari River side. It is located 40 km to the upstream of Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage in Rajamahendravaram City and 25 km from Rajahmundry Airport. Thus back water spreads into parts of Chhattisgarh and Odisha States.[6][7] It gives major boost to tourism sector in Godavari Districts as the reservoir covers the famous Papikonda National Park, Polavaram Hydro electric project(HEP) and National waterway 4 are in under construction at left side of the river.

For other uses, see Polavaram (disambiguation).

Polavaram Project
Polavaram Project View
Location of Polavaram Project in Andhra Pradesh
CountryIndia
LocationPolavaram, West Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh
Coordinates17°15′40″N 81°39′23″E
PurposeHydroelectric, irrigation & water supply
StatusUnder construction
Construction began2004
Opening date2021 Dec (Expected)
Owner(s)Government of Andhra Pradesh
Operator(s)Andhra Pradesh
Dam and spillways
Type of damConcrete spill way (754 m), Non over flow masonry dam (560 m) & Earth dam (1600 m)
ImpoundsGodavari River
Height39.28 m (129 ft) up to top of earth dam above the lowest river bed.
Length2,914 m (9,560 ft)
Spillway typeChute spillway
Spillway capacity5,000,000 cusecs at 140 ft msl
Reservoir
CreatesPolavaram Reservoir
Total capacity194 tmcft at FRL 150 ft msl
Active capacity175 tmcft (at 25.4 m msl crest level of spillway)
Inactive capacity19 tmcft (below 25.4 m msl)
Catchment area307,800 km2 (118,800 sq mi)
Surface area600 km2 (230 sq mi)
Maximum water depth32.08 m at FRL 150 ft msl
Power Station
Operator(s)APGENCO
Turbines12 × 80 MW Kaplan-type (left bank side)
Installed capacity960 MW (under construction)[1]
Website
polavaram.apegov.com/ispp/home

History

In July 1941, the first conceptual proposal for the project was mooted by the erstwhile Madras Presidency. Diwan Bahadur L. Venkatakrishna Iyer, then Chief Engineer in the Presidency's irrigation department, made the first survey of the project site and made a definitive proposal for a reservoir at Polavaram. Sri Iyer not only envisaged cultivation of 350,000 acres (140,000 ha) over two crop seasons through this project, but also planned for a 40 MW hydroelectric plant within the project.[8] The project, when it was conceived in 1946–47, was estimated to cost Rs 129 crore.

In 1980, then Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Tanguturi Anjaiah laid the foundation stone for the prestigious Polavaram irrigation project. In the year 2004 Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy performs bhoomi pooja with the estimation cost of 8,261 cr and the administrative sanction was accorded for construction of right and left canals at a cost of Rs 1,320 crore and Rs 1,353 crore respectively.[9]

First Radial Crest Gate at the Polavaram Dam unveils between 40 and 41 Pillars on 24 December 2018 by N. Chandrababu Naidu

After decades of delaying the main Polavaram Dam irrigation project construction begin built under the next successive government of N. Chandrababu Naidu. After 2014 elections, then Chief Minister-elect N. Chandrababu Naidu has refused to be sworn in unless the Centre issued an ordinance merging seven mandals of khammam district with divided Andhra Pradesh, saying only then can the polavaram be completed without further delay in future.[10] The Polavaram Project Authority was constituted by the Union Cabinet in May 2014.[11] The Naidu government has acquired the complete lands that required across the right canal by solving court petition issues of farmers who lost their agricultural lands from both districts of West Godavari and Krishna and the Pattiseema Lift Irrigation Project has launched in order to pumped the water at Godavari river and sent to Krishna river.[12][13] In June, the state was bifurcated under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act. In December 2017, it was reported that the project contractor, Transstroy was seeking a deadline extension and a budget escalation.[14] Transstroy was reported to have its Rs. 4,300 crore loan turn NPA in July 2015.[15] In January 2018, the state government signed a new contract for the project spillway, spill channel and stilling basin concrete work with Navayuga Engineering[16] By June 2018, 1,10,355 acres of the required 1,68,213 acres had been acquired.[17] On June 11, 2018 the Polavaram diaphragm wall was completed marking a significant milestone in the project construction.[18] On January 7, 2019, The Polavaram project in Andhra Pradesh entered the Guinness Book of World Records by pouring 32,100 cubic meters of concrete in 24 hours by Navayuga Engineering. The project beat the existing record of 21,580 cubic meters which was achieved by Abdul Wahid Bin Shabib, RALS Contracting LLC and Alfa Eng. Consultant (all UAE), in Dubai between May 18 and 20 in 2017.[19] The Chief minister of Andhra Pradesh N. Chandrababu Naidu has unveils the first crest gate of Polavaram project on 24 December 2018 [20] while the overall project status leads to completion of 70% at May 2019.[21]

Progress
Milestone Start Date Completion Date
Spill way concreting work 30 December 2016[22] Under construction
Earth and rock fill dam - Diaphragm Wall 1 February 2017[23] 11 June 2018 [24]
Jet Grouting January 8, 2018 [25] October 29, 2018 [26]
Upper coffer dam grouting June 8, 2017 [27] Jan 8, 2018 [28]
Lower coffer dam grouting June 8, 2017 [27] Under construction
Spill channel concreting work Apr 23, 2018[29] Under construction
Hydroelectric power plant

Location Past

Polavaram project is constructed near Polavaram village. Historically the area is known as Prolavaram. This area was under the rule of Kamma kings of Musunuri Nayakas. Kamma king Musunuri Prolayya, in 1330 AD donated Prolavaram village to Brahmins. Polavaram means, Prola is Prola and Varam is donation.

Purpose

National River-Linking Project, which works under the aegis of the Indian Ministry of Water Resources, was designed to overcome the deficit in water in the country.[30] As a part of this plan, surplus water from the Himalayan rivers is to be transferred to the peninsular rivers of India.[31] This exercise, with a combined network of 30 river-links and a total length of 14,900 kilometres (9,300 mi) at an estimated cost of US$120 billion (in 1999), would be the largest ever infrastructure project in the world.[32] In this project's case, the Godavari river basin[33] is considered as a surplus one, while the Krishna River basin is considered to be a deficit one.[34] As of 2008, 644 tmcft of underutilised water from Godavari River flowed into the Bay of Bengal.[35] But as of 2017 over 3000 tmcft are drained unutilised into Bay of Bengal.[36] Based on the estimated water requirements in 2025, the Study recommended that sizeable surplus water was to be transferred from the Godavari River basin to the Krishna River basin.[34]

The project senior officials are confirming that they are confident of supplying water by gravity to the canals from the onset of 2019 monsoon.[37]

Polavaram project Canal view near Talupulamma Lova

Alternate site

The dam could not be taken up for construction during the last century on techno-economical grounds. The proposed dam site at Polavaram is located where the river emerges from the last range of the Eastern Ghats into plains covered with deep alluvial sandy strata.[38] At Polavaram, the river width is about 1500 m. In view of large depth of excavation which is more than 30 m deep, to reach hard rock at this dam site, the dam project was not found economical to take up. However, a lucrative alternate site is feasible located in upstream of Polavaram site where the river passes through deep gorges of Papi hill range.[39] The width of river is about 300 m only in the rocky gorge stretch. Thirty years back, this alternative was found technologically challenging task to connect the reservoir with the irrigation canals via tunnels across the ghat area. Also, costly underground hydro electric station is mandated compared to river bed based hydro electric station. When the project was actually taken up in the year 2004, the old finalised designs at Polavaram site are adopted without re-examining the latest cost of upstream alternate site in view of state of the art construction technology of tunnels and underground hydroelectric station. The progress up to the year 2012 in construction of dam structures and the hydro electric station is almost nil.[40] The alternate site located in the gorge stretch is still worth of re-examination to reduce the ever-increasing cost of Polavaram dam.

The spillway and non-overflow dam are founded on Khondalite bedrock in Polavaram Project.[39] Khondalites, which are feldspar-rich, often contain soft graphite, hard garnet, etc. in addition to other minerals. Khondalites are highly weathered and hence unsuitable at dam site.[41]

Technical details
Aqueduct across Tammileru near Eluru

The project reservoir has live storage 75.2 tmcft at canal's full supply level of 41.15 metres (135 ft) MSL and gross storage 194 tmcft thereby enabling irrigation of 23,20,000 acre (including stabilisation of existing irrigated lands) in Krishna, West Godavari, East Godavari, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts of Andhra Pradesh.[42][43] The silt free dead storage water of nearly 100 tmcft above the spillway crest level 24.5 metres (80 ft) MSL, can also be used in downstream lift irrigation projects (Pattiseema lift, Tadipudi lift, Chintalapudi lift, Thorrigedda lift, Pushkara lift, Purushothapatnam lift, Venkatanagaram lift, Chagalnadu lift, etc.) and Dowleswaram Barrage during the summer months.[39][44][45][46] Chintalapudi lift / Jalleru project will supply water to irrigate most of the highlands in West Godavari and Krishna districts including the existing command area under Nagarjunasagar left canal in AP facilitating 40 tmcft saved Krishna river water for diversion to Rayalaseema from Srisailam reservoir.[44] GoAP announced the decision to construct Purushothapatnam lift irrigation scheme to transfer water at the rate of 3,500 cusecs to Polavaram left bank canal and further pumping at the rate of 1,400 cusecs to Yeleru reservoir for feeding Yeleru canal which is supplying water to Vizag city.[47][48] Uttarndhra Sujala Sravanthi lift irrigation scheme will also use the Godavari water and a sanction of Rs 2,114 crore was made in 2017 for its first phase.[49][50] All the irrigated lands under these lift schemes can be supplied from Polavaram right and left canals by gravity flow when Polavaram reservoir level is above the canal's full supply level of 41.15 m MSL. However these lift stations are to be operated every year during the dry season to draw water from the substantial dead storage available behind the flood gates of the Polavaram dam. So these lift schemes are not for few years operation till the Polavaram dam is constructed but for permanent operation regularly for at least four months in every year. Nearly 80 tmcft live storage capacity available to Andhra Pradesh in Sileru river basin can also augment the water availability additionally to the Polavaram project during the dry season.[51]

The dam construction involves building of a 1.5-m-thick concrete diaphragm wall up to depths from 40 to 120 m below the river bed under the earth dam which is first of its kind in India.[52] The purpose of diaphragm wall is to secure the river bed stability for withstanding the water pressure across the dam. The project would constitute an earth-cum-rock fill dam of 2,310 metres (7,580 ft) length, spillway of 907 metres (2,976 ft) with 44 vents to enable discharge of 3,600,000 cu ft/s (100,000 m3/s) of water.[53] The spillway is located on the right bank of the river for which nearly 5.5 km long and 1.0 km wide approach and spill channels up to river bed level is envisaged involving nearly 70 million cubic meters earth/rock excavation which is nearly 2/3rd of the project's total earthwork. The maximum flood level at Polavaram is 28 metres (92 ft) MSL and lowest water level is 10.9 metres (36 ft) MSL. Two cofferdams are planned, one up to 41 metres (135 ft) MSL, to facilitate faster pace of work on earth-cum-rock fill dam to complete the first phase of the project by June 2018.[54] With coffer dams inclusion and the bed level of the approach and discharge canals of the spillway increased to 17 metres (56 ft) MSL, the spillway related rock excavation is reduced by 70% leading to substantial cost reduction in the project's head works cost. Ultimately, the cofferdams would become peripheral portions of the main earth-cum-rock fill dam. On the left side of the river, 12 water turbines, each having 80 megawatt capacity, were to be installed. The right canal connecting to Krishna River in the upstream of Prakasam Barrage (173 kilometres (107 mi) long) discharges 17,500 cu ft/s (500 m3/s) at head works and left canal (182 kilometres (113 mi) long) discharges 17,500 cu ft/s (500 m3/s) of water.[42]

Indira Dummugudem lift irrigation scheme starting at 17°33′49″N 81°14′49″E is under construction to supply irrigation water for 200,000 acres in Khammam, Krishna and West Godavari districts drawing Godavari River water from the back waters of Polavaram reservoir.[55] This is a joint project between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana states. This project was shelved and merged with another project by the Telangana state.

Financing

The revised cost of the total project including the 960 MW power station is 47,726 crores at 2017-18 prices.[56]

In December 2016, NABARD handed over Es. 1,981 cr, as part of its loan from the Long Term Irrigation Fund (LTIF) under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY).[57] NABARD provided a loan of 2,981.54 cr during 2016-17 and Rs. 979.36 cr. during 2017-18 under the LTIF to the National Water Development Authority (NWDA) for the project.[58]

Polavaram canal near Eluru (May 2019) - May 2019

In its 2018 budget, Andhra Pradesh allocated Rs. 9000 Cr. to the project.[59] In June 2018, the Central Government approved Rs. 1,400 crore which had been sanctioned in January, but not released, through Extra Budgetary Resources raised by NABARD. These funds were from outside the LTIF.[60]

In January 2018, it was reported that the project cost had escalated to Rs. 58,319 crore.[61] In June 2018, The Water Ministry sanctioned Rs. 417.44 crore as grant-in-aid under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayi Yojana (PMKSY) towards the project.[62] By June 2018, Rs. 13,000 crore had been spent on the project.[17]

Interstate water sharing

As per the inter state agreements dated 4 August 1978 (page 89) and 29 January 1979 (page 101) with Andhra Pradesh, the states of Karnataka and Maharashtra are entitled to use 21 tmcft and 14 tmcft respectively out of the unallocated waters of Krishna river when Godavari water transferred in a year by Polavaram right bank canal from Polavaram reservoir to Prakasam barrage across Krishna river is not exceeding 80 tmcft at 75% dependability.[63][64] When additional Godavari water exceeding 80 tmcft is transferred from Polavaram reservoir, Karnataka and Maharashtra are entitled with additional water from the unallocated Krishna river waters in the same proportion (i.e. 21:14:45) provided all the following conditions are satisfied.

  • The additional Godavari water from Polavaram project should be transferred to the Krishna river in the upstream of Prakasam barrage. Such additional Godavari water quantity to be shared is decided based on 75% dependability.
  • The transferred water shall also displace the water discharges from Nagarjuna Sagar Dam for the Krishna delta requirements. Krishna delta is the area located down stream of Prakasam barrage which is part of Krishna basin.[65] It does not include adjacent coastal river basins which are being irrigated by the Krishna waters from the Prakasam barrage.

Thus Andhra Pradesh is entitled to transfer Godavari water in excess of 80 tmcft in three out of four years (below 75% dependability) reducing the water releases from Nagarjunasagar dam for Krishna delta requirements and need not share water with other states beyond 80 tmcft.

The above interstate water sharing agreement does not cover the Godavari water transferred to Krishna river which is not displacing the water releases from the Nagarjunasagar dam for the requirements of Krishna delta. Thus Andhra Pradesh need not share with other states the water transferred via Krishna river or any reservoir located on Krishna river for the water needs of any of its area (including Krishna basin) other than Krishna delta.

Future potential uses

Godavari Penna River linking

To stabilize the existing irrigated ayacut area under Nagarjuna sagar right canal, a new lift project construction with greenfield alignment was started in the first phase of Godavari Penna River linking project by having five step ladder pumping stages and a gravity canals to transfer 7,000 cusecs of Godavari water[66] from Prakasam Barrage back waters into the Nagarjuna sagar right canal near Nekarikallu by utilizing 73 tmcft of Godavari water. With FRL 25M newly created[67] Vykuntapuram Barrage pond will have back waters beyond Pokkunuru up to the toe of Pulichinthala Project. It is more economical to construct first stage pump house of this lift project to lift water from Prakasam Barrage back waters into newly created Vykuntapuram Barrage pond and the second lift stage from Vykuntapuram Barrage pond to existing K.L Rao sagar / Pulichintala Project and later lift stages from K.L Rao Sagar to Nagarjuna sagar right canal.It will shorten the length of this lift project canal, Pressure Main and fewer lift stages and also enables the lifting of water up to Srisailam Project via Existing Reversible Reverse turbine pump houses in Nagarjuna Sagar Dam and Srisailam project. It is even more economical, if we construct a new gravity canal from Ibrahimpatnam to Vykuntapuram Barrage pond to deliver the Polavaram right main canal/ Budameru diversion canal waters directly into the Vykuntapuram barrage pond since canal level is 33 m MSL at Ambapuram hill near Vijayawada. As water supply from Nagarjuna Sagar Left Bank Canal is highly erratic, Muktyala Lift Irrigation scheme is proposed by drawing water from the back waters of Vykuntapuram barrage on left bank of Krishna river.[68]

There is a proposal to link Nagarjuna Sagar Dam across the Krishna River and Somasila Dam across Penna River with 400 km canal as part of national river linking program. With help from the Indian Government, AP Govt can construct a new canal up to Somasila Dam as per DPR of Indian Rivers Inter-link program specifications.[69] Thus the Godavari River water will travel up to Somasila Dam and then Swarnamukhi in Chittoor district via existing Somasila Swarnamukhi link canal. GoAP can also provide water to Tamil Nadu with this Godavari water and retained water in Krishna River (15 TMC allocation of Krishna water to Telugu Ganga) will be used for other projects in Rayalaseema region.[70]

In future a new massive dam named Palnadu Sagar[71] across hill range near Bollapalle[72] with 700 TMC capacity reservoir is possible using of flood water of Krishna River and Godavari River diverted with this lift project. It will submerge nearly 300Sq KM of land at FRL 260m MSL.Palnadu Sagar spillway with Francis Turbine will take and release water into Nagarjuna Sagar right canal along with Hydroelectricity power generation. Flood water of Krishna River will be pumped to Palnadu Sagar. The water stored in Palnadu Sagar will be used for irrigation and drinking in drought years.

Godavari Krishna River linking

Vykuntapuram barrage would be constructed on Krishna river located near 16°34′41″N 80°24′43″E in the upstream of Prakasam barrage with FRL at 25m MSL to receive Godavari water diverted from Polavaram dam.[73]

A low level lift canal from the Krishna river located near 16°42′50″N 80°08′24″E at 20 m MSL in the downstream of Pulichintala dam will be executed to feed Godavari water diverted from Polavaram Dam to some of the existing command area (situated below 60 m MSL) under Nagarjuna Sagar right bank canal to facilitate extension of Nagarjuna Sagar right bank canal connecting to Kandaleru feeder canal / Somasila reservoir for serving irrigation needs in Prakasam, Potti Sriramulu Nellore and Chittur districts including Chennai drinking water supply. A branch from this lift canal is also extended up to Pulichinthala dam (FRL 53.34 m MSL) to store Godavari water in Pulichintala reservoir during drought years and to irrigate low lands along Krishna river up to Pulichintala dam.[74][75]

Another high level lift canal from above Krishna river location 16°42′50″N 80°08′24″E up to 90 m MSL would be constructed to join Nagarjuna Sagar tail pond (FRL 75 m MSL) irrigating lands en route along Krishna river in Guntur district. During drought years, the water transferred by this canal to Nagarjuna Sagar tail pond is further lifted to Nagarjuna Sagar and Srisailam reservoirs with the existing pumped storage hydro units for use in all the projects receiving water from these reservoirs. This high level lift canal is an alternative to Dummugudem to Sagar lift canal planned in Telangana region which would transfer Godavari river water from Dummugudem to Nagarjuna Sagar tail pond.[76] Ultimately the Polavaram right bank canal would be remodelled to enhance its capacity to 50,000 cusecs by raising its embankments for augmenting water transfer to meet shortages in the Krishna river basin and the needed environmental flows downstream of Prakasam barrage.[76]

A 25 MW hydropower station can be established utilising Polavaram right bank canal water near Vijayawada city by transferring water via Budameru river and Eluru canal to Prakasam barrage pond.[77]

Godavari delta (top river) and Krishna River delta (bottom river in the image) extending into the Bay of Bengal.

Fresh water coastal reservoir

A fresh water coastal reservoir of storage capacity 1000 Tmcft (thousand million cubic feet) could be constructed along the sea coast to store the Krishna & Godavari river flood waters for creating additional irrigated area in Prakasam, Potti Sriramulu Nellore, Cudapah, Chittoor districts and further transfer of Godavari water to Kavery river in Tamil Nadu under interstate rivers linking project[78] This project is similar to Kalpasar Project to store Narmada River water in Gulf of Khambhat sea.[79][80]

Fresh water coastal reservoirs can be established in the shallow sea area by constructing sea dikes / bunds/ causeway up to the depth of 20 meters from the coast line. Water can be pumped from this artificial fresh water lagoon throughout the year for meeting agriculture, etc. needs. Also top surface of the dike can be used as coastal road & rail rout. The proposed dikes would be similar to the land reclamation of North Sea area called Delta Works in Netherlands or Saemangeum Seawall in South Korea. The earth bunds / dikes located on sea bed at 20 meters below the sea level, is lesser challenging technically when compared to Saemangeum Seawall project which is having 36 meters average water depth.[81][82]

The sea area up to 20 meters depth adjacent to coast line between the locations (near 16°19′19″N 81°42′22″E) where Vashista Godavari, the right side branch of the Godavari river, is joining the sea and the mouth of the Gundlakamma River (near 15°34′09″N 80°13′49″E), is highly suitable for creating the fresh water coastal reservoir. The average width of the sea up to 20 m depth is nearly 16 km wide and the length of the sea dikes is nearly 200 km. The area of the coastal reservoir would be nearly 2900 km2. A barrage would be constructed across the Vashista Godavari river (near 16°19′41″N 81°43′15″E) near Antervedi Pallipalem town. A flood canal (1.5 km long) from this barrage would feed Godavari river water to the coastal reservoir. With 70 tmcft live storage above the full supply level of its canals and another 100 tmcft above the spillway sill level, Polavaram reservoir will assist in moderating the Godavari flood water to make adequate water flow to the coastal reservoir.

The off shore earth dam extending up to 8 m msl high, is in the form of two parallel dikes separated by 1000 meters gap. The main purpose of the twin dikes is to prevent any sea water seepage into coastal reservoir as its water level is below the sea water level. The water level between the dikes is always maintained up to 1 m above the sea level by pumping fresh water from the coastal reservoir to the 1000 m gap between the dikes. The higher level water barrier between the two dikes fully eliminate any sea water seepage in to the coastal reservoir by establishing fresh water seepage to the sea. The rain water falling on the coastal reservoir area and run off water from its catchment area is adequate to cater the seepage and evaporation losses from the coastal reservoir. The 180 km long, 1000 m gap between the two dikes is also used as deep water mega harbor for shipping, ship breaking, ship building, etc.[83] For shipping purpose, the breakwater outer dike facing the sea is envisaged with few locks fitted with twin gates for access to the open sea. The top surface of inner dike would serve as access to the main land from the mega harbor with rail and road links. The coastal reservoir whose full reservoir water level (FRL) is at 0.0 m msl, would also reduce drastically the cyclone damage and flooding in coastal areas of West Godavari, Krishna, Guntur and Prakasam districts. It would also greatly improve the irrigated coastal lands drainage in these districts. The coastal reservoir area can also be used for locating floating solar power plants to generate the needed water pumping power.[84] The dikes are built by dredging sand and clay from the nearby shallow sea bed to reduce the construction cost. Nearly 1850 tmcft water of Godavari and Krishna flood waters can be utilized for irrigation, etc. requirements with this fresh water coastal reservoir.

Vast lands in the districts of Prakasam, Nellore, Cudapah, Ananthapur and Chittoor are drought prone and do not have adequate water sources for irrigating the dry lands.[85] Water from this coastal reservoir would be pumped uplands to Ramathirtham water tank (near 15°37′37″N 79°48′47″E) which is at 85 m msl.[86] From this water tank, dry lands in Prakasam and Nellore districts up to Tamil Nadu border can be brought under irrigation by gravity canals. From this canal, water would be further pumped to the uplands up to 600 m msl across the Seshachalam mountains to irrigate vast area in Chittoor, Cudapah and Ananthapur districts. This gravity canal would also be extended further to transfer 350 tmcft water up to the Kavery river in Tamil Nadu state during South-west monsoon period. The total cost to Andhra Pradesh state would be less than Rs 300 billions which is nearly Rs 1,00,000 per acre of irrigated land.[87]

Controversies

The proposed project would displace 276 villages and 44,574 families spread across Andhra Pradesh state mainly. Tribals constitute 50% of such a displaced population.[88] Human rights activists came out against the project because of these reasons. In addition, one activist pointed out that this interlinking of the rivers will harm the interests of the region in the state.[89] Environmental activist Medha Patkar said that the project not only will displace several thousands of families, it will also submerge several archaeological sites, coal deposits, a wildlife sanctuary in Papikonda National Park, and several hectares of farm land.[90]

Sixty-four years after the initial conception of the project, the Government of Andhra Pradesh secured the environmental clearance from the central agency in 2005. This clearance was obtained after the state government prepared a ₹4,500 crore forest management plan and rehabilitation and resettlement proposal covering 59,756 hectares that were being lost under the project.[91] In addition, ₹40,000 was to be allotted for each dwelling to be constructed for the displaced as against ₹25,000 provided by other states.[92] Despite this clearance, the project faced political roadblocks. The Communist Party of India (M) and Telangana Rashtra Samithi were troubled with the issue of submerging agricultural lands by the project.[93][94]

Meanwhile, work on the project began in April 2006 and was expected to be completed by February 2007.[95] After 30% work of excavation work on the canals and 15% of the spillway works had been completed, the work was halted in May 2006 to seek clearance from the Ministry of Forests and Environment.[96]

The neighbouring state of Odisha also expressed its concern on the submerging of its land and decided to study this together with the officials from Andhra Pradesh.[97] In response, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Late Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy clarified that neither Odisha nor Chhattisgarh would be affected by the construction.[98] The problem continued until 2010, when Chief Minister of Odisha Naveen Patnaik remained steadfast in his demand for compensation and rehabilitation of tribals of his state who would be displaced due to the submerging of their land.[99]

Odisha and Chhattisgarh have filed a petition in the Supreme Court against the Project which has probability of temporarily submerging large areas of its state and allege that union government are going ahead with the project without the necessary permissions from Environment Ministry. Under section 90 of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, union government has taken the responsibility of taking all clearances and approvals for the project execution and also declared the project as national project.[100] The states also allege that public hearing in the effected areas are not held. Under section 90 (3) of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, Telangana state has already given the approval in all respects to the Polavaram project.[100][101]

In June 2018, it was reported that Naveen Patnaik, Chief Minister of Odisha had written to the Central Government to halt the Polavaram Project.[102]

Interstate river water disputes

Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh entered into agreement (clause vi of final order, page 80 of original GWDT) which were made part of Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal (GWDT) award.[64] The agreement allows Andhra Pradesh to construct the Polavaram reservoir with full reservoir level (FRL) at 150 feet above the mean sea level (MSL). Odisha approached Supreme Court against the design discharge capacity of the Polavaram dam spill way stating that it should be designed for five million cusecs (cubic feet per second) which is the estimated probable maximum flood (PMF) once in 1000 years duration. Odisha argues that otherwise there would be additional submergence above 150 ft MSL in its territory during peak floods. The recorded maximum flood is 3.0 million cusecs in the year 1986 during last 115 years.[103][104]

The projected back water level build up at Konta due to PMF in Godavari river after construction of Polavaram project with designed maximum water level (measured at dam point) shall be cross checked with the level that can occur at Konta in Sabari basin from the PMF generated in the upstream of Konta when the downstream main Godavari is not under spate. Then only enhanced submergence during the PMF of Godavari river in Odisha and Chhattisgarh states can be assessed due to Polavaram dam construction.[105]

The location of Polavaram dam is in the plain area at approximately 10 km downstream from the 50 km long narrow gorge in the Papi Hills. It is also to be ascertained whether the higher back water level during the PMF in Godavari river is solely due to the presence of long narrow gorge which is acting as a natural dam / barrier or further enhanced by the presence of downstream Polavaram barrage.[105]

It is purely an academic interest showing concern for the few thousand hectares of farm/forest land submerged by the back water level build up once in five hundred or thousand years (against the permitted norm of once in 25 years) without showing concern for the thousands of square kilometres land submerged in the area downstream of the dam with a river flood of magnitude five million cusecs.[105]

Thirty two years have passed after GWDT award in 1980, Maharashtra, Odisha and Chhattisgarh have not made serious efforts to harness the major Godavari tributaries such as Sabari River, Indravati River and Pranahita River to utilise the allocated share of Godavari waters. This underutilisation of water is the main reason for the very high flood flows at Polavaram dam site. Vast area in excess of 10,000 square km up to sea are frequently flooded (at least once in a decade) by Godavari floods in Andhra Pradesh by the flood waters originated in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha and Chhattisgarh states. The land submergence due to Polavaram dam in Odisha and Chhattisgarh states is fraction of Andhra Pradesh area which is affected by the floods in Godavari River. During the years from 1953 to 2011, Andhra Pradesh suffered nearly ₹55,800 crore which is 26% of total flood damage in India.[106] It is justified to raise the FRL of Polavaram dam further on this ground alone. One single criterion shall be applied by the tribunals / courts for all the submerged lands whether they are related to reservoir projects construction or due to river floods (i.e. non-utilisation of river water). Upstream states shall not take granted that downstream state areas are permitted to be flooded /inundated by the river flood water without offering agreeable relief / comforts.[105]

Odisha and Chhattisgarh entered into agreement (clause 3e, Annexure F, Page 159 of original GWDT) to construct a Hydro electricity project at Konta / Motu just upstream of the confluence point of Sileru tributary with Sabari River (tri-junction point of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Chhattisgarh borders).[107] When this project is constructed, the land submergence would be more than that of Polavaram back waters. It would be better that Odisha and Chhattisgarh enter into agreement with Andhra Pradesh to shift the location of this Hydro electricity project further down stream in Andhra Pradesh territory to harness Sileru river water also for hydro electricity generation. This joint project of the three states would eliminate the back waters issue of Polavaram dam.

The 200 km long stretch of the Sabari river forming boundary between Chhattisgarh and Odisha drops by 2.25 meters per km length on average. This stretch of the river has substantial hydro electricity generation potential by building medium head (< 20 m) barrages in series to minimise land submergence.[108] The surplus water of Indravati River in Odisha can also be diverted to Sabari river via Jouranala through which Indravati River flood waters naturally overflow into Sabari basin for power generation.[109]

Dispute with Odisha and Andhra Pradesh

In July 2018, a two-member bench of the Supreme Court asked Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha and Chhattisgarh governments to frame the issues for arguments. Telangana said to the court it is in-principle agree for project but centre should takeup study by Neutral central institute like CWPRS, Pune to study impact of Backwater due to increase of 36 Lakh cusecs to 50 Lakh cusecs of design discharge, it is to ascertain Safety of important temple town like Bhadrachalam, Mining areas and heavy water Plant. Orissa also insisting for Backwater studies.[105] The matter is before Supreme court. Proceedings are going on. Supreme Court identified 13 issues to settle the dispute.[110]

See also

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