Polavaram Project 89% complete: Chandrababu Naidu reviews dam works in Eluru
Synopsis
Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu's 37th site visit to Polavaram since 2014 — and his 136th review — came with a pointed political charge: 72% progress under his earlier tenure, just 2% under the previous government. With 89% of civil works now done and tunnel completion due this month, the long-delayed national project is finally within sight of the finish line.
Key Takeaways
Andhra Pradesh CM N.
Chandrababu Naidu visited the Polavaram Project in Eluru district on 13 July for an aerial and ground inspection.
Officials confirmed 89 per cent of the project's civil works have been completed.
Tunnel works connecting the right and left canals are expected to be completed by the end of July 2025 .
Naidu directed that ECRF Gap 1 and Gap 2 works be finished within the stipulated timeline.
The coalition government has spent ₹24,000 crore on irrigation in the last two years .
Naidu has visited the project site 37 times since 2014 and conducted 136 reviews of its progress.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Monday, 13 July visited the Polavaram Project site in Eluru district and conducted a comprehensive review of ongoing construction works, with officials confirming that 89 per cent of the project's civil works have been completed to date.
Aerial and Ground Inspection
Naidu began with an aerial inspection of the project site, observing Godavari floodwater flow through the spillway and the ongoing works between the upstream and downstream coffer dams. He subsequently conducted a ground inspection of the Earth-cum-Rock-Fill Dam (ECRF) Gap 1 and Gap 2 and the power generation unit works.
Water Resources Minister Nimmala Ramanaidu and senior departmental officials accompanied the Chief Minister during the visit. Naidu specifically inquired about the progress of ECRF Gap 1 works and the construction of the power generation station.
Key Directives Issued
Following the site inspection, Naidu chaired a review meeting covering the Polavaram Project as well as 36 priority projects to be undertaken across the state. He directed that works on Gap 1 and Gap 2 of the Earth-cum-Rock-Fill Dam be completed within the stipulated timeline.
Officials informed him that tunnel works connecting the right and left canals are expected to be completed by the end of July. Naidu also ordered expedited execution of works related to access roads to the dam, right and left embankments, and the development of the Gandi Pochamma Temple.
Notably, he suggested constructing an iconic bridge at the Polavaram Project site and stressed the need for comprehensive infrastructure facilities in the surrounding area.
Rehabilitation and Resettlement Commitments
The Chief Minister directed officials to ensure that displaced persons face no difficulties with rehabilitation and compensation, instructing that land acquisition and Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R&R) processes be completed swiftly. He assured that there will be no compromise on resettlement and compensation for those displaced by the project.
Political Context and Progress Timeline
According to an official release, Naidu has visited the Polavaram Project site 37 times since 2014 and conducted 136 reviews of project progress — a figure that underscores the political and strategic weight the project carries for the Telugu Desam Party (TDP)-led coalition.
Earlier in the day, while interacting with farmers at Pitchuka Lanka in Dr B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema district, Naidu revealed that the coalition government had spent ₹24,000 crore on the irrigation sector over the last two years.
He sharply criticised the previous government, stating that while 72 per cent of the works were completed between 2014 and 2019, only 2 per cent progress was recorded in the subsequent five years. Naidu said Polavaram would have been completed by 2021 had the TDP government continued in power.
What Completion Would Mean for Andhra Pradesh
Naidu explained that once completed, Polavaram would permanently resolve the water problem of the Godavari districts. Godavari water would be diverted to the Krishna delta and Rayalaseema through Pattiseema, transforming the agricultural landscape of those regions. He assured that the project will be dedicated to the nation at the scheduled time.
This is the third major on-site review by Naidu in recent months, reflecting the coalition government's push to accelerate completion ahead of its self-imposed deadline.
Point of View
But it also points to a genuine governance failure: a near-complete dam left to stall for five years at enormous cost to displaced communities. The real accountability question now is not who built more, but whether the R&R commitments — long the project's most contested dimension — will be honoured before inauguration, or papered over in the rush to a ribbon-cutting.
NationPress
13 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current status of the Polavaram Project?
As of 13 July 2025, officials confirmed that 89 per cent of the Polavaram Project's civil works have been completed. Tunnel works connecting the right and left canals are expected to finish by the end of July, and Chief Minister Naidu has directed that the ECRF Gap 1 and Gap 2 works be completed within the stipulated timeline.
Why is the Polavaram Project significant for Andhra Pradesh?
Polavaram is a multipurpose irrigation and hydropower project on the Godavari river. Once complete, it is expected to permanently resolve water shortages in the Godavari districts and enable diversion of Godavari water to the Krishna delta and Rayalaseema through Pattiseema, transforming agriculture across those regions.
What did Chandrababu Naidu say about the previous government's role in Polavaram?
Naidu criticised the previous government for what he called utter negligence, stating that while 72 per cent of works were completed between 2014 and 2019 under his earlier tenure, only 2 per cent progress was made in the following five years. He said the project would have been completed by 2021 had the TDP government continued.
What are the rehabilitation and resettlement commitments for displaced persons?
Chief Minister Naidu directed officials to ensure displaced persons face no difficulties with rehabilitation and compensation. He instructed that land acquisition and R&R processes be completed swiftly and personally assured that there will be no compromise on resettlement and compensation.
How much has the coalition government spent on irrigation since coming to power?
According to Naidu, the coalition government has spent ₹24,000 crore on the irrigation sector over the last two years, as he revealed while addressing farmers at Pitchuka Lanka in Dr B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema district on 13 July.
