Centre says no shortage of funds for Polavaram Project

KAKINADA: Union Jal Shakthi minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has made it clear that there is no shortage of funds for constructing the Polavaram Irrigation Project, as the central government has declared it as a national project.

This is the reply Rajamahendravaram MP M. Bharat got on Friday over the issue of Polavaram Project that he raised in Lok Sabha on August 3.

Bharat maintained that in accordance with the union minister’s reply, central government has been releasing funds as per submission of bills certified by the Polavaram Project Authority and Central Water Commission.

The MP quoted Shekhawat as saying that as per AP Bifurcation Act 2014, Polavaram Irrigation Project (PIP) has been declared as a national project.

Accordingly, from April 1, 2014, central government has been reimbursing to state government all expenses on balance works taken up on the Polavaram project and its irrigation components.

In this context, Bharat said that central government has so far released ₹14,963.36 crore. Further, the centre has no objections in releasing funds for additional works taken up on the project.

The MP said as per Union minister Shekhawat, the Centre is going to release another ₹17,144 crore for works taken up on the Polavaram Project.