AMARAVATI: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday termed the completion of the crucial 1,372-metre-long diaphragm wall a key milestone in the Polavaram project.
The mega irrigation initiative aims to irrigate lakhs of acres of agricultural land and provide drinking water to lakhs of people.
The CM noted that the diaphragm wall, considered vital for the project’s progress, was completed in a short time, expediting overall construction work.
“I congratulate the Irrigation Department officials and engineers for completing the construction of the crucial 1,372-metre-long diaphragm wall in a short time,” Naidu said in a post on 'X'.
He said the completion of the diaphragm wall would accelerate work on the main structure, including the Earth-cum-Rock Fill (ECRF) dam.
Naidu alleged that negligence by the erstwhile YSRCP regime had led to damage to the diaphragm wall, which was later reconstructed at an additional cost of Rs 1,000 crore.
He also thanked central agencies and representatives of the Polavaram Project Authority for their support in achieving the milestone.
Naidu said the TDP-led NDA government remains committed to completing all works and dedicating the Polavaram project to the nation ahead of the 2027 Godavari Pushkaralu.
Pushkaralu, a festival dedicated to the worship of rivers, is celebrated once every 12 years.