Centre says Polavaram Phase-I on track for 2027 completion

The Story in Brief

Union minister of state for Jal Shakti Raj Bhushan Chowdary told the Lok Sabha on Thursday that the Centre's financial assistance for the Polavaram irrigation project on the Godavari river in Andhra Pradesh is limited to Phase-I approved components, capping water impounding at 41.15 metres. The Centre has approved ₹30,436.95 crore for Phase-I at 2023 prices, with a balance grant of ₹12,157.53 crore yet to be released. So far, ₹5,512.40 crore was released in 2024-25 and ₹2,810.22 crore in 2025-26. Chowdary said Phase-I remains on track for completion by June 2027, with critical milestones including main dam works and land acquisition. The Andhra government has been submitting required documents on time, and the Polavaram Project Authority scrutinises them before recommending further releases.

Clarifying the scope, the minister stated that Central funding covers all civil works up to the Full Reservoir Level of 45.72 metres but excludes the Polavaram Power House, which the state must fund entirely. The Polavaram Project Authority under the Department of Water Resources reviews technical documents and utilisation certificates before clearing subsequent instalments.