AP CM Naidu Seeks Central Funds, Pushes for Early Completion of Polavaram Project
New Delhi, May 11 (TNT): Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Monday urged the Centre to release pending funds for Andhra Pradesh and sought support for completing key irrigation and infrastructure projects, including the Polavaram national project.
The Chief Minister, who met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R Patil in New Delhi, requested financial assistance for pending bifurcation-related commitments and centrally sponsored schemes.
During his meeting with Amit Shah, Naidu sought continued Central support beyond the allocations made in the current Union Budget to accelerate Andhra Pradesh’s infrastructure and development projects.
In discussions with C.R. Patil, the Chief Minister stressed the need for Central support to complete the Polavaram Project before the 2027 Godavari Pushkarams.
He said the state government is prioritising completion of structures required for storing water up to 41.15 metres in the first phase and noted that he had personally visited the project site five times to review progress.
Naidu informed the Union Minister that construction of the new diaphragm wall was completed on April 2, 2026, while major works related to the Earth-cum-Rock Fill (ECRF) dam in Gap-1 and Gap-2 are progressing rapidly.
The Chief Minister also urged the Centre to permanently withdraw the 2011 stop-work orders issued due to pending public opinion collection in Odisha and Chhattisgarh.
He said the carrying capacity of both the left and right canals of the Polavaram project had been increased to 17,500 cusecs to meet irrigation requirements and sought reimbursement for additional expenditure incurred due to the enhanced canal capacity.
According to the Chief Minister, 95 per cent of the right canal works and 78 per cent of the left canal works have already been completed.
Naidu also sought Central assistance under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) and requested release of ₹285 crore for restoration, modernisation and rehabilitation of 297 water resources across Andhra Pradesh.
The Chief Minister urged the Jal Shakti Ministry not to issue a gazette notification for increasing the height of the Almatti Dam until the Supreme Court delivers its final verdict.
He cautioned that increasing the dam height from 519.60 metres to 524.256 metres could adversely affect Andhra Pradesh’s water interests and requested the Centre to maintain status quo until the legal process concludes.
Naidu also requested the Centre to direct Karnataka to halt land acquisition and preparatory works related to the Upper Krishna Project Phase-III until the Supreme Court verdict.
The Chief Minister further sought approval for the Polavaram–Banakacherla Link Project aimed at diverting 200 TMC of surplus Godavari floodwaters to address water scarcity in Rayalaseema and South Coastal Andhra Pradesh.
On the Vamsadhara Neradi Barrage project, he said Andhra Pradesh would proceed in accordance with the gazette notification already issued and requested the Centre to direct Odisha to facilitate land acquisition required for the project.
State Water Resources Minister Nimmala Ramanaidu and senior officials accompanied the Chief Minister during the meetings.
TNT KS
