Centre puts Polavaram project under tight watch to fast-track works

Vijayawada: The Centre, in a decisive push to accelerate the Polavaram project works, has initiated a stringent monitoring mechanism by assigning two key central govt agencies to oversee the execution and quality control of the national irrigation project.The move comes amid renewed focus on completing the crucial components of the project within the revised timelines. The Jal Shakti ministry has entrusted Water and Power Consultancy Services (Wapcos) with the responsibility of preparing a comprehensive action plan and continuously monitoring the execution of works at the project site. Wapcos officials are expected to conduct regular reviews, assess progress of civil works and coordinate with the project authorities, including the Polavaram Project Authority (PPA), state water resources department, and contract agencies to ensure adherence to the schedules fixed by the Centre.The ministry has also directed the Central Soil and Materials Research Station (CSMRS) to undertake periodic quality inspections of the ongoing works. The agency will conduct technical evaluations and verify whether the construction activities are being carried out in accordance with the prescribed engineering standards and safety norms. Frequent inspections by CSMRS are aimed at avoiding any compromise in quality, particularly in the diaphragm wall, spillway, and rehabilitation-related structures.Sources said the Centre is keen on avoiding further delays in the prestigious irrigation project, which has already witnessed repeated setbacks over the years due to technical, financial, and rehabilitation-related issues. The enhanced supervision mechanism is expected to improve coordination between the Centre, state govt, and executing agencies.Jal Shakti ministry secretary VL Kantha Rao directed Wapcos to prepare a detailed roadmap identifying priority works, bottlenecks, and monthly targets. The agency is also likely to submit regular status reports to the ministry to facilitate real-time monitoring at the national level. The reports will include progress in head works, earth-cum-rockfill dam works, spill channel components, and rehabilitation measures for displaced families.Wapcos has also been asked to focus on implementation of Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R&R) package for the project oustees. Kantha Rao asked officials to ready the timelines to complete the R&R works based on the report submitted by the state rehabilitation commissioner. “Wapcos has been directed to not only ready the plan and monitor, but also come out with remedies for the bottlenecks on real-time basis,” said a senior official.The CSMRS teams are expected to make frequent field visits and conduct material testing, structural assessments, and stability analyses to ensure durability and long-term safety of the project structures. The inspections assume significance in the backdrop of past concerns raised over construction quality and technical compliance in some components of the project. It has been made mandatory to conduct the quality checks at least twice a month, sources said.The Centre’s latest intervention is being viewed as a major step towards streamlining the execution of Polavaram project and ensuring accountability among the agencies involved. With regular monitoring and quality audits now being institutionalised, officials believe the pace of construction will improve considerably in the coming months.