Lok Sabha Question No. 324 (STARRED), answered on 2023-03-23
Subject: PDFs of Polavaram Project
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Beesetti  Venkata Satyavathi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI, DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. *324

ANSWERED ON 23.03.2023

## PDFs OF POLAVARAM PROJECT

## *324 DR. BEESETTI VENKATA SATYAVATHI

- Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state: (a)  whether  it  is  a  fact  that  there  are  demands  from  individuals  of  the  Project  Displaced  Families (PDFs) who have attained the age of eighteen years, subsequent to the notification to be considered as separate family units entitled to all the benefits accruing to PDFs under the Polavaram Irrigation Project; (b) if so, the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government in response to such demands; (c) whether it is also a fact that the land acquisition and resettlement and rehabilitation is yet to be initiated for about 40,000 acres on the left side of the project; and (d) if so, the reasons for such delays and the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to
- prevent further delays?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

(SHRI PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL)

(a) to (d) : A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF  LOK  SABHA STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  *324  FOR  REPLY  ON  23.03.2023  REGARDING  'PDFS  OF POLAVARAM PROJECT'.

(a)  &  (b) Polavaram  Irrigation  Project  (PIP)  has  been  declared  as  National  Project  vide  Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act, 2014. Further, the project, including land acquisition and rehabilitation &  resettlement,  is  being  implemented  by  Government  of  Andhra  Pradesh  (GoAP)  on  behalf  of Government of India.

It is informed by GoAP that a few representations have been received from individuals of the project displaced families (PDFs) who have attained the age of eighteen years subsequent to the notification, to be considered as separate family units entitled to all the benefits accruing to PDFs of the project.

GoAP  has  informed  that  uptil  December,  2013,  rehabilitation  &  resettlement  (R&R) compensation was being given to the PDFs of PIP is as per GoAP OM No. 68 dated 8 th April, 2005. Thereafter,  it  is  being  given  as  per  Right  to  Fair  Compensation  and  Transparency  in  Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RFCTLARR) Act, 2013. The persons who are below 18  years  of  age  on  the  date  of  preliminary  notification,  are  not  eligible  to  be  notified  as  project displaced/  affected  family  (PDF/PAF).  Such  ineligible  persons,  who  are  making  representation  for seeking PDF/ PAF status, are accordingly being informed by the project authorities.

(c) & (d) Revised Cost Committee of Government of India has ascertained requirement of land to be acquired for the PIP as 1,27,263 acre. Against this, upto February, 2023, 1,13,119 acre is reported to  have  been  acquired,  and  balance  is  under  different  stages  of  acquisition.  As  per  the  present completion schedule, the timeline for acquisition of balance land is December, 2023.

As far as R&R is concerned, out of 1.06 PDFs, 20,946 PDFs will be affected by filling up of  reservoir  in  Phase  I,  i.e.,  upto  EL  41.15m.  Till  February,  2023,   R&R  has  been  completed  for 11,677 families. Though R&R for Phase - I was targeted to be completed by March, 2023, some delay has been reported in the same.  The implementation of the project is reviewed from time to time to inter alia address delays.

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