What Centre Said On Polavaram Irrigation Project (image:x.com/manasrmangaraj)

New Delhi: The Central government on December 9, Monday listed the recommendations of Panel of Experts (PoE) to minimise safety risks and to ensure timely completion of Polavaram irrigation project in the Parliament. In a written response to questions filed by Rajya Sabha members Mayankbhai Jaydevbhai Nayak and Baburam Nishad, Minister of Jal Shakti Raj Bhushan Choudhary responded primary concerns related to deadlines and safety associated with the Andhra Pradesh’s Polavaram project and detailed specific recommendations made by experts to minimise safety risks and ensure that the project is completed on time.

Minister said that the primary concerns related to safety and project completion of  the controversial irrigation project are seepage in Earth Core Rock Fill (ECRF) dam pit area in Gap-2 portion, health assessment & strengthening of upstream & downstream cofferdams, ground Improvement works in foundation of ECRF dam in Gap-1 & Gap-2, de-watering arrangements in main dam area during monsoon season to facilitate uninterrupted construction, and design, planning & construction of new Diaphragm wall in Gap-2 portion and ECRF dam in Gap-1 & Gap-II portions.

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Continuing further, Minister said that the Government has placed a Panel of Experts (PoE) including four international experts for the project so as to provide consultation on technical and construction management issues with regarding its safety and completion. The panel visited the project for the first time during June 30 to July 3, this year and the second visit was from November 6 to November 9. During these visits key issues concerning the irrigation project were discussed.

Then, Minister communicated the steps advised by the Experts panel. They are remedial measures to address the seepage issue from both coffer dams, based on the test results; buttress berm construction in both cofferdams for safety considerations; water management plan for taking up the constructions works with safety; ways to address the issues in ground improvement works; suggestions on planning and construction of new diaphragm wall; tests suggested to finalise design of main dam at Gap-1 and Gap-2 and additionally, the panel has given its observations on project planning, construction management and site organisation structure to minimise the safety risks and in-time project completion, Minister added.

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Meanwhile, last week, Odisha assembly witnessed fuss as opposition Congress and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MLAs staged protest over Polavaram project. During the Question hour, Congress leaders jumped into the well of the house, protesting against not accepting their notice for a debate on the impact of the Polavaram project was rejected by the Speaker. Also, on December 5, Thursday, a delegation of senior leaders from the BJD, went to New Delhi and addressed concerns about the likely adverse impact of Dam project on the tribal populations of Odisha’s Malkangiri district, and has urged the Central Water Commission (CWC) to suspend all work on it till Odisha’s worries are adequately addressed.