AP, 3 States to Discuss Polavaram Dam Backwater Impact in Delhi
27 Aug 2024 10:50 PM IST
Representatives from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh to address concerns over Polavaram project’s backwaters and potential flood impacts. (DC File Image)
VIJAYAWADA: Representatives of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha and Chhattisgarh would meet in New Delhi on Wednesday under the aegis of the Central Water Commission to discuss Polavaram irrigation project’s backwaters impact.
Odisha is seeking a study on the impact of the backwaters in the event of the project receiving floods of 50 lakh cusecs. It wants matching relief for submergence of its land.
Studies on the impact of Polavaram backwaters had been carried out four times. The CWC maintains that the Godavari river on which the Polavaram Dam is coming up witnessed the highest floods of 36 lakh cusecs in 1986.
Reports are that the river experiences heavy floods of upto 36 lakh cusecs once in 100 years and 50 lakh cusecs once in 10,000 years.
Water resources authorities say the Polavaram dam will be erected at a height of 45.72 metres. As it receives a huge inflow of floodwaters, all the gates of the dam will be lifted and water will be released downstream into the sea. As the floodwater keeps gushing out from the dam’s gates, the issue of backwaters would arise. This would affect the low-lying areas, mainly in Odisha and Chhattisgarh, they aver.
They say that the AP government has informed Odisha that it will take up remedial steps like construction of flood banks in areas where the Polavaram backwaters posed a threat of submergence. AP has also offered to compensate for the loss due to submergence.
The Odisha government is not convinced and said a flood level of 50 lakh cusecs at the Polavaram dam could be expected and remedial steps must be taken accordingly.
AP says that if they accept Odisha's demand, the cost of compensation for the land submerged due to backwaters of Polavaram and for rehabilitation and resettlement package will cost a lot. AP cannot afford to bear such a burden, it argues.
Polavaram chief engineer in-charge Narasimha Murthy said, “The stakeholder states will meet in Delhi to try and resolve the issue amicably on August 28.”
Studies on the impact of Polavaram backwaters had been carried out four times. The CWC maintains that the Godavari river on which the Polavaram Dam is coming up witnessed the highest floods of 36 lakh cusecs in 1986.
Reports are that the river experiences heavy floods of upto 36 lakh cusecs once in 100 years and 50 lakh cusecs once in 10,000 years.
Water resources authorities say the Polavaram dam will be erected at a height of 45.72 metres. As it receives a huge inflow of floodwaters, all the gates of the dam will be lifted and water will be released downstream into the sea. As the floodwater keeps gushing out from the dam’s gates, the issue of backwaters would arise. This would affect the low-lying areas, mainly in Odisha and Chhattisgarh, they aver.
They say that the AP government has informed Odisha that it will take up remedial steps like construction of flood banks in areas where the Polavaram backwaters posed a threat of submergence. AP has also offered to compensate for the loss due to submergence.
The Odisha government is not convinced and said a flood level of 50 lakh cusecs at the Polavaram dam could be expected and remedial steps must be taken accordingly.
AP says that if they accept Odisha's demand, the cost of compensation for the land submerged due to backwaters of Polavaram and for rehabilitation and resettlement package will cost a lot. AP cannot afford to bear such a burden, it argues.
Polavaram chief engineer in-charge Narasimha Murthy said, “The stakeholder states will meet in Delhi to try and resolve the issue amicably on August 28.”
( Source : Deccan Chronicle )
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