Centre to clear Rs 393 cr for Polavaram soon: Union Minister

Union Minister of State for Water Resources Arjun Ram Meghwal has said his ministry has forwarded a proposal to reimburse the balance amount of `93 crores spent by the State government as per the approved Detailed Project Report (DPR) of Polavaram to the Ministry of Finance. He added that the approval to the revised estimates of the national project is dependent on whether the State government is complying with the rules or not.

In a reply in the Lok Sabha on Thursday to a question raised by TDP MPs Muttamsetti Srinivasa Rao, M Murali Mohan and JC Diwakar Reddy, the minister said, “The approval to the revised estimates is dependent upon requisite compliances by the State government. However, the Polavaram Project Authority (PPA) has forwarded a proposal of `393.51 crores to the Central Water Commission on June 29 for reimbursement of balance amount as per the presently approved cost. Proposal for release of this amount has been forwarded to the Ministry of Finance,” he said.

Explaining that the Centre has provided an assistance of `6,764.16 crore after Polavaram was declared a national project, he said  56.34% of the physical works were completed so far.

“A Central assistance of `562.47 crore was provided for the project under Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) prior to its declaration as national project on April 1, 2014. An amount of `5,135.87 crore was spent by the AP government on the project till April 1, 2014. After declaration as a national project, Central assistance of `6,764.16 crore has been released,” he said.