Naidu's White Paper on Polavaram a Bundle of Lies, Says Rambabu

Vijayawada: Former minister Ambati Rambabu has said the white paper on Polavaram released by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu carried a bunch of lies and false allegations.

“Naidu, in order to cover his own mistakes in his previous term, is now shifting the blame on Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s government. The Polavaram project was destroyed due to the mishandling by Naidu during the 2014-19 period. All the strategic mis-steps in the project were taken by the TD government,” the YSRC leader claimed.

He pointed out that Chandrababu motivatedly took over the project, which should have been implemented by the central government in a normal course. “Naidu made a mistake by taking over the project in 2016 with the rates of 2013-14. It was Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy as CM who gave life to Polavaram by getting all the permissions from the Centre.”

Rambabu said there was no truth in the white paper released by Chandrababu Naidu now. “There is a fear that everything is wrong and there is no answer as to when it will be completed.”

He noted that Rajasekhar Reddy won permission for the site in September 2005, environment clearance in October 2005, wildlife protection nod in July 2006, a rehabilitation plan in April 2007, and a diversion of Papikondalu Wildlife Sanctuary in 2008. Also, in December 2008, the forest department got the Stage 1 nod. In January 2009, the CWC.s technical permission came. In February 2009 the central Planning department gave its nod. In March 2009, the central finance department gave its permission.

“These apart, in July 2010, the forest department got stage 2 permission and all these happened during the term of Rajasekhara Reddy. It was during his time that the canals were dug.”

Chandrababu had the opportunity to be the CM before Rajasekhar Reddy but why Naidu did not think about Polavaram, the former minister asked.

Ambati Rambabu showed the status of the Polavaram project when Chandrababu stepped down in 2019 and the status of the project in 2024 and said that Polavaram works progressed during the term of the last YSRC government.

“Chandrababu is telling lies about the Polavaram diaphragm wall. The wall was damaged due to the faulty cofferdams during Chandrababu’s term. The cofferdams should be constructed only after diverting the river, the spill channel, the approach channel and another channel after diverting the river. After that, a diaphragm wall will have to be built.”

The diversion process was not completed, the diaphragm wall was built, the cofferdams were put up and now Naidu is telling lies regarding the cofferdam and diaphragm wall, Rambabu said.