MP Calls for High-Level Committee to Address Polavaram Project Threat
Khammam MP Ramasahayam Raghuram Reddy has urged the government to form a high-level committee to address the potential threats posed by the Polavaram project being constructed in Andhra Pradesh. He warned that the project could severely impact the Bhadradri Kothagudem district in Telangana.
Reddy raised this issue in the Lok Sabha on Friday under Rule 377 and appealed to the Union Water Resources Minister for intervention. He explained that the project aims to utilize the Godavari River at a full reservoir level (FRL) of +45.72 meters, with a storage capacity of 194.60 TMC. However, this design could lead to significant backwater effects in the region.
The MP highlighted that areas and agricultural lands in Burgampadu, Ashwapuram, and Dummugudem mandals of Bhadradri Kothagudem district are at risk of submergence due to the project. He estimated that about 1,090 acres of land might be lost. Reddy also noted that flood barriers were constructed in 2002-03 to protect Bhadrachalam and nearby areas from Godavari floods, but the backwater impact from streams like Kinnerasani and Murredu remains severe.
Reddy further pointed out that Bhadrachalam has recently faced devastating floods. In response, the Telangana state government has allocated Rs 4,100 crores for the construction of additional flood protection infrastructure.
As part of flood mitigation efforts, there is a proposal to construct embankments extending 83 kilometers on both sides of the Godavari River. This would include measures from Sanjeev Reddypalem to Ammagaripalli and from Bhadrachalam to Dummugudem mandal to contain the floodwaters and protect the affected areas.
