Centre to Discuss Polavaram's D-wall with AP in New Delhi

Vijayawada: The central government would discuss with AP ways to deal with the damage to Polavaram irrigation project’s diaphragm wall and the spillway’s guide bund, at a meeting in New Delhi on Sunday, July 9.

In a recent meeting chaired by Jal Shakti minister Gajendra Shekhawat, it was decided that members from central water commission, the Polavaram project authority as also officials from the Jal Shakti ministry and AP water resources department would meet again to deliberate on the steps to be taken to address the issue of damage to components of the project. Shekhawat wanted safety to be the top priority irrespective of considerations like cost escalation.

AP water resources authorities say that the Union minister stressed that there should be no future complications once the repair or replacement works are done for the two damaged components. The responsibility for this must be taken by those who oversee the works.

As for the diaphragm wall, there is a proposal to construct parallel walls at four portions to replace the damaged portions and connect the new walls to the existing undamaged wall. However, safety issues have been raised. Nowhere in the world had such an experiment been carried out so far, it was stated.

According to an estimate, it would require nearly '400 crore to carry out the repair works and construct a parallel diaphragm wall in four portions. If the whole length of the diaphragm wall spread over 1,300 metres is to be erected anew, it would cost nearly '800 crore.

So, the Centre favoured the construction of a new diaphragm wall for its full length so that safety would be ensured, and four portions of D-wall can be connected to the main D-wall.

Sunday’s meeting would discuss these matters.

However, with regard to sinking of portions of the spillway’s guide bund, the authorities have not taken any decision. A lot of studies on soil strength etc are being taken up involving technical agencies and this may take more time to take a decision and consider the cost factor.

Polavaram project superintending engineer Narasimha Murthy said, “A meeting has been called for Sunday to discuss as to what can be done with Polavaram project’s D-wall and also the guide bund to ensure safety of the project despite the cost involved in attending to the repair works.”