The Hindu Business Line : Polavaram canal work will go on as per court directives: CM

WORK on the Polavaram project on the Godavari will go on in accordance with the directives of the Andhra Pradesh High Court and requisite clearances will be obtained within three months, Chief Minsiter, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, said on Tuesday.

A division bench of the Andhra Pradesh High Court issued a stay order on Monday on the works related to the Polavaram project, on the ground that the Government had not obtained the clearances.

The Chief Minister was speaking at a public meeting at Payakaraopeta in Visakhapatnam district after distributing pattas (title deeds) to the landless poor, as part of the Comprehensive Land Development Programme (named Indira Prabha).

Reiterating his Government's commitment to completing the pending irrigation projects, including Polavaram, he clarified that the High Court had only stayed the works related to the dam, but the work on canals could go on. "We will get the eco clearance and other clearances within three months, and start work on the main dam as well. I am determined to complete the project within four years," he said.

He said that the Polavaram project alone could provide a permanent solution to the irrigation needs of the upland areas of the two Godavari districts as well as the three north-coastal districts of Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam.

Criticising the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) for creating obstructions, the Chief Minister asserted that all such hurdles would be overcome and the designs of the TDP defeated.

"For instance, this year, while the rest of the State is experiencing heavy rainfall, there is a deficit in these three districts and parts of East Godavari. Polavaram offers a permanent solution to these water-starved areas," he said.

Later, at a press meet at the Tandava Co-operative Sugar Factory, it was pointed out to the Chief Minister that it was not the TDP which had filed the petition in the High Court against the Polavaram project, but the Telangan Vidyavantula Vedika and others organisations.

To this, he clarified that he was not referring to the particular case against Polavaram, but "the obstructionist, disruptive attitude of the Telugu Desam Party" in relation to irrigation projects in general.

Elaborating on the point, he said it was by no means unprecedented to take up work on irrigation projects without getting all clearances. "For instance, Karnataka built the Almatti reservoir on the Krishna without clearances and they were given much later, years after the completion of the works. However, we respect the court verdict and we will get the eco clearance. I see no problem in that."

In response to a question on bauxite mining in Visakhapatnam district and the mounting opposition to the proposal from Girijans in the area, he said that there was no need for any apprehensions.

"The interests of the Girijans will be safeguarded and, in fact, the project is intended to improve their lot. The Andhra Pradesh Mining Corporation will take up mining. The Jindal group will set up the smelter. The Girijans will get plenty of job opportunities. There is no question of compromising on their interests."

To a question on the deficit rainfall in the north-coastal districts and whether there was any proposal to declare them drought-hit, he said that the situation would be reviewed in the first week of September and appropriate relief measures initiated.

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