Amaravati, March 18 (NationPress) On Wednesday, Andhra Pradesh's Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, presented a cheque amounting to Rs 226.61 crore to families affected by the Polavaram Project as part of the third payment for land acquisition, rehabilitation, and resettlement.

This event took place at his official residence, coinciding with the celebration of Ugadi, the Telugu New Year.

During his address, the Chief Minister emphasized the government's respect for the displaced individuals who have given up their lands and homes for the advancement of the Polavaram Project, acknowledging that the project's realization is largely due to their sacrifices.

He referred to the Polavaram Project as the state's lifeline, asserting that its completion and the interlinking of rivers would provide benefits across the entire region.

He pointed out that previous administrations had neglected the construction of the diaphragm wall, which led to its damage. Following consultations with experts, the government has initiated the reconstruction of a new diaphragm wall at an estimated cost of Rs 1,000 crore.

CM Naidu assured that the reconstruction of the diaphragm wall would be finalized within a week, and that work on the project is advancing swiftly.

He noted that efforts have intensified over the past 21 months, expressing optimism that the project would be completed within two months following next year's Ugadi, thereby fulfilling a long-held aspiration of the populace.

The Chief Minister clarified that the Rampachodavaram constituency has been reorganized into the Polavaram district with a focus on the project and the needs of the displaced families. He reiterated that, despite it being a central government initiative, the state is committed to its completion.

He highlighted that compensation payments to those displaced have accelerated since the coalition government took office, with Rs 800 crore disbursed as the first instalment during Sankranti in January 2025, followed by Rs 916 crore in the second instalment during Diwali last year.

With the latest release of Rs 226.6 crore for Ugadi, a total of Rs 1,943 crore has been distributed to 26,149 displaced individuals over the past 21 months.

As part of the two-phase construction project, arrangements have been made to relocate 38,068 displaced persons in the first phase. Out of 75 rehabilitation colonies, 26 have been completed while 49 are currently under construction.

The Chief Minister also mentioned that new colonies are being developed for 17,114 displaced individuals identified in 2022, with a target to complete rehabilitation by April 2027. An additional Rs 3,500 crore will be required to finalize the project.

Each affected family is being allocated Rs 3.5 lakh for housing construction, and the amount for housing sites has increased to Rs 2 lakh. He noted that the project faced delays of 6-7 years due to the negligence of earlier administrations.

Attendees included Minister for Water Resources Nimmala Rama Naidu, Chief Secretary G. Sai Prasad, and officials from Polavaram R&R.