The prestigious Polavaram Project is now in danger, if what Minister for Water Resources Ambati Rambabu says is to be believed.
Rambabu, who assumed charge as the minister told the media persons that there was some damage to the diaphragm wall of the project.
He said that the experts from the IIT Chennai and IIT Mumbai, besides the officials from the Central Water Commission would visit the project site shortly and make recommendations.
“We may have to rebuild the diaphragm wall,” the Minister said shifting the blame on the TDP government.
The Minister said that the TDP government did not form the spillway for the project to take the flood waters of the river, while the project is under construction.
As the spillway was not ready, the flood water in 2019 breached the upper coffer dam causing damage to the diaphragm wall.
He further alleged that the TDP regime, particularly then chief minister Chandrababu Naidu used the Polavaram Project as ATM and took up those works which gave him money.
Because of this, the project is now in danger, he said and feared that the repairs or restoration of the diaphragm wall might cost the state exchequer another Rs 8,000 crore.
He blamed the TDP regime for neglecting the priority works for the prestigious national project.
However, the Minister had no answer what would be the government’s next move if the Central government rejects the project based on the damage to the diaphragm wall!