logo
WRD Minister pulls up executing agencies, officials over delays in Veligonda, Polavaram Left Canal works

WRD Minister pulls up executing agencies, officials over delays in Veligonda, Polavaram Left Canal works

The Hindua day ago
Water Resources Department (WRD) Minister Nimmala Ramanaidu expressed strong displeasure over delays in the execution of works related to the Veligonda Project and the Polavaram Left Main Canal. Addressing a review meeting through a video conference with departmental officials and representatives of executing agencies on Monday, the Minister directed that notices be issued to both agencies and officials responsible for failing to adhere to the prescribed timelines.
Regarding the Veligonda project, Mr. Ramanaidu instructed that benching and lining works inside the tunnels be completed as per the fixed targets. He acknowledged that a legal case was hampering the removal of the tunnel boring machine (TBM) in the second tunnel and informed that a technical expert committee has been formed to assess the machine's value.
The Minister emphasised the need to immediately float tenders and commence works such as feeder canal construction, lining, and retaining wall as soon as administrative approvals are secured.
In the case of the Polavaram Left Main Canal, he issued instructions to expedite challenging components such as the highway bridge, Pampa aqueduct, and Krishnavaram siphon. Agencies were directed to ramp up execution speed and ensure that progress aligns with deadlines.
Irrigation Advisor M. Venkateswara Rao, Engineer-in-Chief Narasimha Rao, Chief Engineers and Superintending Engineers of the respective projects, senior irrigation officials, and representatives from executing agencies attended the meeting.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

HC gives 4 months to state to finalise Pune floodline
HC gives 4 months to state to finalise Pune floodline

Hindustan Times

time3 hours ago

  • Hindustan Times

HC gives 4 months to state to finalise Pune floodline

The Bombay high court has directed the state government and an expert committee to finalise decisions regarding Pune's floodline within four months. The court made it clear that the expert committee must submit its report within two months, following which the state government must act on the recommendations therein within the next two months. The PIL requested that no permission should be granted for DPs on land within 100 metre of the demarcated floodlines. (HT) The directive came in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in 2021 by Pune-based civic activists Sarang Yadwadkar, Vivek Velankar and Vijay Kumbhar, raising concerns over the flawed floodline demarcations in the 2017 Development Plan (DP) of Pune city. The court had earlier instructed the state to form an expert committee chaired by the additional chief secretary of the Water Resources department, but the committee had neither convened nor submitted its report, prompting the petitioners to file an interim application. In the latest order passed on June 30, a division bench of justices Alok Aadhav and Sandeep Marne stated: 'The expert committee shall positively submit a report to the state government within a period of two months from June 30. The state government, on receipt of the report, shall take appropriate action on the recommendations of the expert committee within a further period of two months.' The bench also stated that once the expert committee submits its report, it will be open to the petitioners to make additional suggestions to the state government. Petitioners Yadwadkar and Kumbhar said the PIL sought replacement of the existing flood lines shown in the DP with more accurate ones based on scientific mapping. 'We have objected to the current floodlines and have demanded that no new construction permissions be granted within 100 metres of the existing floodline,' they said. The PIL requested that no permission should be granted for DPs on land within 100 metre of the demarcated floodlines, citing the risk of flooding due to poor planning and outdated hydrological assessments. The petitioners also alleged that despite an earlier court order, the expert committee did not make any effort to come up with a plan. Yadwadkar, who has been raising the issue for several years now, warned that the city faces serious risks of floods if the flood line demarcations are not corrected and enforced.

Banakacherla project hits roadblock as Central panel returns the proposal
Banakacherla project hits roadblock as Central panel returns the proposal

New Indian Express

time21 hours ago

  • New Indian Express

Banakacherla project hits roadblock as Central panel returns the proposal

VIJAYAWADA: The Central Environment Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) for River Valley and Hydroelectric Projects has declined approval for Andhra Pradesh's Polavaram-Banakacherla Link Project (PBLP), citing legal and environmental issues. The decision was taken after its 33rd meeting on June 17, 2025. and communicated to the State on Monday (June 30). The committee has returned the PBLP proposal to Andhra Pradesh for clarification, underscoring the need for compliance with tribunal rulings and interstate agreements. Chaired by G K Chakrapani, the EAC emphasized that any clearance would require a review of the 1980 Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal (GWDT) verdict and consultations with the Central Water Commission (CWC). Sources told TNIE that the water resources department is discussing the issue at length and would respond at the earliest. It should be noted here that in his recent media conference, Minister for Water Resources Nimmala Ramanaidu expressed confidence that PBLP would get the nod for environmental clearance. The PBLP, proposed by Andhra Pradesh's Water Resource Department, sought Terms of Reference (TOR) for a 376-km canal system to transfer 200 TMC of floodwater from Polavaram Dam to Banakacherla Regulator across eight districts: East Godavari, West Godavari, Eluru, Krishna, NTR, Palnadu, Prakasam, and Nandyal.

Andhra Water Minister raps officials for delay in works of key irrigation projects
Andhra Water Minister raps officials for delay in works of key irrigation projects

New Indian Express

time21 hours ago

  • New Indian Express

Andhra Water Minister raps officials for delay in works of key irrigation projects

VIJAYAWADA: Water Resources Minister Nimmala Ramanaidu expressed serious displeasure over the delay in the Veligonda Project and Polavaram Left Main Canal works during a video conference on Monday. At the Water Resources Camp Office in Vijayawada, the minister ordered officials to issue notices to agencies responsible for the sluggish progress. He directed that benching and lining works inside the Veligonda tunnels be expedited. Regarding Tunnel-2, he noted that a court case was stalling the removal of the tunnel boring machine, and a technical committee is now assessing its value. The minister also instructed officials to invite tenders for the feeder canal, lining, and retaining wall works once administrative approvals are in place. For the Polavaram Left Main Canal, Ramanaidu stressed the need to speed up the construction of the highway bridge, Pampa Aqueduct, and Krishnavaram Siphon. Irrigation Advisor M Venkateswara Rao, ENC Narasimhamurthy, project CEs, SEs, and agency representatives were present in the video conference.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store