Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu released a white paper on the Polavaram project today. Speaking at an event in Amaravati, Chandrababu stated that political allegations were previously made based on limited information, but now that they are in power, they aim to inform the public about the actual situation. Chandrababu mentioned that he would seek input from intellectuals, experts, the media, and various sections of the public to advance the Polavaram project.
“The people have won the elections, and now it is our responsibility to sustain the state. We will not hesitate to take responsibility, but we also need the cooperation of the people. That is why we are releasing white papers on seven issues over the next 25 days. We will complete discussions on everything and go to the assembly session, where the budget needs to be presented. Additionally, we need to secure funds for these issues during the Lok Sabha session. All our activities in the irrigation sector will be documented and available on our website. They lack credibility and often counter-attack whatever we do, trying to mislead people. This needs to be addressed, which is why we are releasing the first white paper today to raise public awareness and counter their false narratives.”
The white paper released today is divided into two parts: the Polavaram project and other irrigation projects. Chandrababu emphasized the critical need for irrigation projects in the state, mentioning that from 2014 to 2019, Rs 67,000 crore was spent on such projects. Currently, even maintenance costs are not being met, and irrigation projects are being neglected. The Polavaram project, described as the lifeline for the state’s development, is one of the two major projects alongside Amaravati. Both are essential for compensating for the losses incurred during the state’s division. Polavaram, granted national status under the Bifurcation Act, is crucial for the interlinking of rivers. Chandrababu criticized Jagan’s handling of the project, calling it an unforgivable crime.
Polavaram aims to make Andhra Pradesh a drought-free state by utilizing the 3,000 TMC of water currently wasted in the sea and providing affordable hydropower. The project can store 194 TMC of water and utilize up to 322 TMC, including floodwaters. Chandrababu highlighted the significant loss caused by Jagan’s five-year rule, stating it exceeded the impact of the state’s bifurcation in 2014.