Polavaram Project Site Abuzz

Vijayawada: The Polavaram multi-purpose irrigation project site is abuzz with experts from central agencies carrying out quality tests on materials to be used for construction of the earth-cum-rock-fill dam at a top elevation of 53.32 metres.

As the works on construction of ECRF dam began recently, experts mainly from the central soil and materials research station and the water and power consultancy services, which works under the Jal Sakthi ministry are frequently visiting the project site. They mainly check the suitability of materials like rock, sand, soil/clay and metal chips of 20/40/80mm size through tests and recommend suitable ones for construction of the main dam.

The principal contract agency and the state water resources department are having their own labs to test the quality of materials.

Though the water department is able to source mainly the suitable rock and sand at the project site itself, they are sourcing soil/clay from the Kothuru Tank a distance away from the project site.

They collect samples of the materials and subject them to quality tests for their usage in the dam construction. Suitable materials will be transported to the project site.

The works on the ECRF Dam Gap-1 have reached the elevation of 33 metres as of now while at Gap-2, the works are at various stages of elevation. The authorities intend to bring the works to a uniform height by July 15.

On the other hand, though the Polavaram dam will be constructed to a top elevation of 53.32 metres with no phase-wise civil works, the water resources authorities will fill up the reservoir in the dam with Godavari water at a level of 41.15 metres in phase-1 and at a level of 45.72 metres in phase-2.

However, filling up of the reservoir from phase-1 to phase-2 involves resettlement and rehabilitation of project-displaced families, construction of rehabilitation colonies with all requisite amenities and migration of the affected families and payment of financial relief.

Polavaram superintendent engineer Ramachandra Rao said, “We are confident of completing the dam construction by March 2027 as desired by the chief minister; and if not, by June, 2027.”