Delays in Survey on Submergence under Polavaram Prompt Government Protests in TS

The Telangana State Government has expressed dissatisfaction with the delay in conducting a survey on submergence in the Polavaram project. During a meeting with the Central Water Commission (CWC) in New Delhi, an official delegation led by State chief engineer Nagendra Rao highlighted the need for the survey to be conducted as per CWC’s previous instructions to the Andhra Pradesh Government and Polavaram Project Authority. The Telangana officials criticized the Andhra Pradesh Government for not adhering to the commission’s instructions. In addition, the Telangana government demanded that safety measures be taken at the heavy water plant in Manuguru and Lord Rama temple in Bhadrachalam before the completion of the project. The officials also requested that CWC Chairman Kushwinder Vohra not permit AP to preserve water in Polavaram and its reservoirs until the demands raised by affected states, including Chattisgarh and Odisha, are met. The officials stated that CWC had accepted Telangana’s demand for a joint survey on Polavaram backwaters effect during a previous technical meeting, but the AP government was not ready to conduct the survey despite previous instructions. The TS government also requested a joint meeting on April 10 with AP and Telangana to take necessary measures.