The construction of the earth-cum-rock-filled (ECRF) dam of the Polavaram Multipurpose Irrigation project in Andhra Pradesh will be completed by March 2028.
This was disclosed by the Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu at a review meeting on irrigation projects in Amaravati on Wednesday.
As the project was nearing completion, the officials should be prepared to ensure full utilisation of the Godavari waters, he said. He instructed the officials to draw-up an action plan on the modalities of utilising the waters for the needy agricultural requirements.
The water from the right and left main canals should be efficiently distributed to reservoirs and tanks to meet irrigation and other needs, Naidu said.
The Polavaram project should be developed as a major tourist destination with hotels, shopping areas, and beautification of surrounding regions. Plans are to include boating facilities from Polavaram to Papikondalu and Bhadrachalam along with water, rock, forest, and sports-themed attractions, the CM said.
The expenditure on the project so far was ₹27,089 crore on the project. Another ₹5,000 crore to be spent on relief and rehabilitation shortly as per the official data.
The Chief Minister also reviewed progress of other irrigation projects Veligonda, Handri–Neeva Sujala Sravanthi, Polavaram–Nallamala Sagar Link, Chintalapudi Lift Irrigation Scheme, Varikapudiselu and North Andhra projects.
He instructed officials to accelerate works on North Andhra projects such as Tharakarama, Mahendratanaya, Thotapalli Barrage, Maddulavalasa, Janjavathi and Hiramandalam Lift schemes. The interlinking rivers Vamsadhara–Nagavali and Nagavali–Champavathi should be completed by December 2026 and by July 2027, according to a release.
Published on April 15, 2026