Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, who is on a two-day tour in New Delhi, met Union minister for water resources Gajendra Singh Shekawat to discuss the issues pertaining to Polavaram major irrigation project.
According to an official release from the government, Jagan sought approval to investment clearance for Polavaram to the tune of Rs 55,656 crore at 2017-18 prices, as recommended by Poalvaram Project Authority and Central Water Commission.
Going by the official release, there is nothing new in the representation given by Jagan to Shekawat. He had written to the Centre several times in the past and also gave representations to Shekawat as well as Amit Shah six months ago.
The Union finance ministry rejected the increased estimates outright and that was only after that the Jagan government decided to maintain water level in Polavaram project at a lower contour so as to minimise the rehabilitation cost.
The only new point in Jagan’s representation appears to be the request to consider water supply component as an integral part of irrigation component in consonance with the guidelines followed by Ministry of Jal Shakti towards National projects.
He also asked the Centre to reimburse the amount regarding the land acquisition and R&R compensation for project affected families.
He also asked shifting of the headquarters of PPA from Hyderabad to Rajamahendravaram at an early date.
