Telangana’s anxiety over Polavaram

metro india news I hyderabad

The Government of Telangana has raised serious concerns regarding the potential backwater impacts of Andhra Pradesh's Polavaram project, urging the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti to take immediate protective measures.

In a formal letter to the Centre, Telangana Irrigation Department Secretary E. Sridhar highlighted risks of submergence and severe drainage congestion in low-lying areas, riverside habitations, agricultural lands, and critical facilities. The letter referenced a field inspection conducted on June 3 by the Polavaram Project Authority (PPA) CEO around Bhadrachalam to assess the impact when the reservoir reaches its Full Reservoir Level (FRL) of +45.72 meters.

During the joint inspection across sites like Kinnerasani, Pedavagu, Edulavagu, Turubaka, and Yetapaka, officials discovered that outfall sluices in colonies such as Yetapaka, Kotha Colony, Vista Complex, and Subhashnagar sit below the +45.72-meter FRL. Once the reservoir fills, backwaters could block natural stream flows, causing heavy inundation. Furthermore, discussions with officials at the Manuguru Heavy Water Plant revealed deep anxieties over potential operational disruption and threat to critical infrastructure. Concerns voiced by local MLAs from Bhadrachalam and Pinapaka were also officially documented.

Request to CWC

To mitigate risks, Telangana requested the PPA and Central Water Commission (CWC) to expedite detailed drainage congestion studies across six local streams, noting that cross-sectional survey data for five streams has already been provided. Telangana urges the Centre to act on the PPA CEO's verbal assurances during the June visit by implementing concrete steps:

Accelerate Joint Studies: Quickly finalize scientific drainage congestion evaluations and flood-mapping studies. Demarcate Submergence Zones: Formally delineate vulnerable and flood-prone areas.

Execute Protective Infrastructure: Construct flood embankments, initiate required land acquisition, and set up high-capacity pumping systems at outfall sluices. Emphasizing that public safety, livelihoods, and vital infrastructure are at stake, Telangana called for coordinated, urgent action among the PPA, CWC, and state authorities before the Polavaram reservoir is filled to its design level.