Telangana asks Jal Shakti Ministry to speed up Polavaram backwater studies

Telangana has approached the Ministry of Jal Shakti seeking faster progress on drainage congestion studies and protective measures in areas expected to be affected by submergence and backwater from the Polavaram project at its full reservoir level (FRL) of 45.72 metres.

In a letter to Ministry Secretary Archana Varma, Telangana Secretary (Irrigation) E. Sridhar flagged the need for urgent action, pointing to the scale of the submergence risk in the state.

According to the communication, the Chief Executive Officer of the Polavaram Project Authority, along with his team and state irrigation officials, inspected backwater submergence areas in and around Bhadrachalam town in the first week of June. The team examined lands identified as falling under submergence and studied how backwater affects streams, drainage congestion and the working of outfall sluices.

The inspection covered both banks of the Godavari river, taking in Kinnerasani, Peddavagu, Edulavagu, Thurubaka, Etapaka and other local streams. The team also verified the demarcated boundaries of the Polavaram backwater at FRL.

Outfall sluices at Etapaka, Kotha Colony, Vista Complex and Subhashnagar Colony were inspected and recorded as lying below the 45.72-metre FRL. The team also held discussions with authorities of the Heavy Water Plant near Manuguru on how backwater could affect the plant's operations and infrastructure.

Concerns raised by Bhadrachalam MLA Tellam Venkata Rao and Pinapaka MLA Payam Venkateswarlu were recorded during the visit. The Polavaram Project Authority subsequently wrote to the Hydrological Study Organisation of the Central Water Commission, asking it to conduct drainage congestion studies on six Telangana streams, with cross-sectional survey data already completed for five of them.

Mr. Sridhar stressed that the studies should be completed without delay, submergence areas finalised and protection measures begun, including embankment construction, land acquisition and pumping arrangements. He said the issues raised by Telangana had been acknowledged by the PPA CEO and sought their early resolution, describing them as vital for safeguarding lives, livelihoods and infrastructure in the state.