Sharmila alleges Naidu scaling down Polavaram project to avoid ₹32,000 crore R&R costs
Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Y. S. Sharmila on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu over the Polavaram project, accusing him of deliberately weakening the state's lifeline project to please the central government.
Taking to social media platform X, Sharmila alleged that instead of ensuring the project's completion at its originally approved Full Reservoir Level (FRL) of 45.72 metres, Naidu was accepting completion only up to 41.15 metres. She claimed this would significantly reduce the project's intended benefits and effectively convert the multipurpose project into a mere water-storage structure.
Sharmila further alleged that the move was aimed at avoiding nearly ₹32,000 crore in Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R&R) expenditure. She criticised the Chief Minister for highlighting the number of times he reviewed the project while failing to demand full funding and completion from the Centre.
The Polavaram project, a major irrigation and hydroelectric project on the Godavari river, has been a politically sensitive issue in Andhra Pradesh. The Congress leader's allegations come amid ongoing disputes over project financing and completion timelines.
As of now, there has been no official response from the Chief Minister's office or the state government regarding these allegations.
