Lok Sabha Question No. 1723 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-08-01
Subject: Polavaram Project
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri Putta Mahesh Kumar, Shri G M Harish Balayogi, Shri Krishna Prasad Tenneti

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

## DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1723

ANSWERED ON 01.08.2024

## POLAVARAM PROJECT

## 1723.   SHRI PUTTA MAHESH KUMAR

SHRI G M HARISH BALAYOGI

SHRI KRISHNA PRASAD TENNETI

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

- (a) the details regarding the total number of beneficiaries that would receive water once the Polavaram project has been completed in a State-wise manner especially in Andhra Pradesh;
- (b)  the  details  regarding  the  total  quantity  of  water  each  district  of  Andhra  Pradesh  shall  get  once  the Polavaram Project is completed;
- (c) whether the Government has carried out any audit of the works carried out by the Government in regards to the development of Polavaram Project and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether the Government has set any proposed timeline for the completion of Polavaram Project and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## ( SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY )

- (a) Polavaram  irrigation  project  (PIP)  on  river  Godavari  in  Andhra  Pradesh,  was  declared  as  a  National project  by  the  Andhra  Pradesh  Re-organisation  Act,  2014.  As  per  Ministry  of  Finance  approval  of  2016, Government of India is to provide 100% of the remaining cost of the irrigation component only of the project for the period starting from 1.4.2014, to extent of the cost of the irrigation component on that date. However, Government of Andhra Pradesh is implementing the project on behalf of Government of India.

On completion of Polavaram irrigation project, the estimated number of beneficiaries in Andhra Pradesh that would receive water (for irrigation & domestic purpose) is given below.

| Sl. No.   | Particulars                                 | Total Number of beneficiaries   |
|-----------|---------------------------------------------|---------------------------------|
| (1)       | Irrigation water through canals             | Irrigation water through canals |
| a.        | Left Main Canal                             | 3,71,680                        |
| b.        | Right Main Canal                            | 2,83,471                        |
| (2)       | Domestic water                              | Domestic water                  |
| a.        | Anakapalli Municipality                     | 86,519                          |
| b.        | Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal corporation | 16,97,947                       |
| c.        | To 540 villages enroute of canals           | 28,50,000                       |

The project, per se, would majorly benefit Andhra Pradesh, though water has also been allocated by the  Godavari  Water  Dispute  Tribunal  (GWDT)  to  other  States  like  Odisha  and  Chhattisgarh  from  the Polavaram irrigation project. In addition, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh & Telangana  can utilize the water in Krishna basin in lieu of water transfer to Krishna through the project.

- (b) On completion of Polavaram irrigation project, the district-wise total quantity of water contemplated to be available in Andhra Pradesh, is as below;
- (c) The  Comptroller  &  Auditor  General  of  India  (CAG)  had  reviewed  the  implementation  of  Polavaram Irrigation Project and included it in the Report no.2 of 2012 (covering the period from April 2006 to March 2010) & Report no. 4 of 2018 (covering the period from April 2012 to March 2017). Also, the  CAG has undertaken the Performance Audit of Polavaram Irrigation Project covering the period from 2017-18 to 202223,  and  the  report  in  this  regard  is  awaited.  Further,  CAG  is  auditing  the  accounts  of  Polavaram  Project Authority,  including  reimbursement  releases  made  to  Government  of  Andhra  Pradesh  (GoAP),  on  annual basis. This annual CAG audit has been carried up to the last financial year, i.e., 2022-23.
- (d) As per the presently assessed timelines, phase-1 of the Polavaram irrigation project, i.e., water storage up to minimum draw down level of EL 41.15m, is scheduled to be completed by March, 2026.

(Water quantity in Thousand Million Cubic Feet (TMC))

| Sl. No.   | Name of District           | Total quantity of water   |   (in TMC) |
|-----------|----------------------------|---------------------------|------------|
| 1         | East Godavari              |                           |      51.34 |
| 2         | West Godavari              |                           |       9.01 |
| 3         | Eluru                      |                           |      21.77 |
| 4         | Krishna                    |                           |      12.76 |
| 5         | NTR                        |                           |       2.51 |
| 6         | Dr. B R Ambedkar Konaseema |                           |       0.42 |
| 7         | Kakinada                   |                           |      35.23 |
| 8         | Anakapalli                 |                           |      34.07 |
| 9         | Visakhapatnam              |                           |      21.23 |
|           | Total                      |                           |     188.34 |

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