POLAVARAM PROJECT

Key Features of the Polavaram Project:

• Location: The project is situated in the West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh.
• Type: It is a river valley project that includes a dam, reservoir, and canals for irrigation.
• Purpose: The primary purpose of the project is to irrigate approximately 2.91 million acres of land in the region and provide drinking water to several towns and cities. It will also generate hydroelectric power.
• Height of the Dam: The dam will be 45 meters high, with a reservoir capacity of 80.75 TMC (Thousand Million Cubic Feet) of water.
• Irrigation: It aims to irrigate areas in the Godavari Basin, providing water to agricultural lands.
• Hydropower Generation: The project includes a power plant that will generate around 960 MW of electricity.
• Flood Control: The dam will also help in controlling floods in the region, particularly during the monsoon season

• Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has committed to finishing the Polavaram Project on the Godavari River by 2027, as the ongoing interstate dispute involving Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Andhra Pradesh reaches a critical stage. The Union government has pledged ₹15,000 crore in this year’s budget to support the project's completion.
• However, the BJD has accused the Central Water Commission (CWC) of refusing to conduct a backwater study for the revised design flood, despite expert recommendations and concerns raised by the Odisha government about the safety of tribal populations.
• The BJD claims that various studies, including those by the Andhra Pradesh government and CWC, show differing estimates for the submergence levels.
• For example, a 2009 backwater study by Andhra Pradesh suggests that a 50-lakh cusec flood would result in submergence up to 216 feet in Odisha, significantly surpassing the initially agreed maximum level of 174.22 feet.
• A 2019 report from IIT Roorkee further projects that a 58 lakh cusec flood would cause submergence up to 232.28 feet at the reservoir level in Odisha

The Polavaram Irrigation Project on the Godavari River was initiated based on the recommendations of the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal (GWDT). An agreement was signed on April 2, 1980, between Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Odisha, under which Andhra Pradesh was designated to implement the project. According to the Andhra Pradesh State Reorganization Act (APRA), 2014, the Polavaram Irrigation Project was classified as a national project. In reply to an RTI inquiry, the Ministry of Jal Shakti stated that the maximum height of the Polavaram Project's concrete dam, measured from the deepest foundation level (-18.50m) to the top of the bridge, is 72.60 meters. The project's initial cost was ₹10,151.04 crore in 2005-06, which escalated to ₹55,548.87 crore by 2019

 

4. Challenges

 

• Although no detailed study has been conducted on the potential submergence of Malkangiri district due to the backwaters from the Polavaram project, the Odisha State government submitted to the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) in 2016 that the project would submerge 7,656 hectares of land, including forest areas, and displace over 6,800 people, including 5,916 tribals in Malkangiri.
• The Ministry of Jal Shakti reported that, according to the Water Resources Department of Andhra Pradesh, the submergence in both Odisha and Chhattisgarh could be entirely prevented by implementing remedial measures, such as constructing protective embankments.
• These embankments would cover 30 km along the Sileru and Sabari rivers in Odisha and 29.12 km along the Sabari River in Chhattisgarh. In August of this year, the Ministry requested the State Pollution Control Boards of Odisha and Chhattisgarh to conduct public hearings for the construction of these embankments without further delay, as the project is at an advanced stage.
• However, the Odisha State Pollution Control Board has yet to hold a public hearing. The Odisha government had previously raised concerns about the feasibility of the embankment, citing that its construction would require the diversion of forestland and cause flooding in Odisha territory

 

5. Godavari River

 

• The Godavari River is the second-longest river in India, after the Ganges, and is often referred to as the "Dakshina Ganga" (Ganga of the South). It originates from the Trimbakeshwar hills near Nasik in Maharashtra and flows eastward through several states, including Maharashtra, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, and Andhra Pradesh, before emptying into the Bay of Bengal.
• The river covers a total length of approximately 1,465 kilometers and is a major source of water for irrigation, drinking, and other domestic uses for the regions it flows through. It also supports a wide range of ecosystems and provides livelihood opportunities for millions of people.
• The Godavari River basin is rich in biodiversity, and the river is known for its religious and cultural significance. Several temples and pilgrimage sites are located along its course, with places like Nashik, Rajahmundry, and Bhadrachalam being important religious hubs.
• The Godavari River plays a critical role in the economy of southern India, particularly in agriculture, by providing irrigation to large areas of land, especially in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The Godavari basin is one of the most fertile regions in India, supporting the cultivation of rice, cotton, and other crops.
• The river also faces challenges such as pollution, water management issues, and the impact of large-scale development projects, including dams and irrigation schemes. To address these concerns, the government and various organizations are working on initiatives for sustainable water use and conservation in the Godavari River basin

 

For Prelims: Godavari River, Krishna River and their tributaries   For Mains: GS I - Indian Geography

 

Source: The Hindu