Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh Water Resources Minister Nimmala Ramanaidu announced that ₹19,396 crore has been spent on the Polavaram project since 2014. Responding to questions in the Legislative Council, he stated that the central government has contributed ₹17,860 crore toward the project.
Highlighting the impact of the project, the minister revealed that 96,660 families are being displaced due to flooding. So far, ₹1,203 crore has been provided as compensation in the first phase, while an additional ₹1,340 crore is required for 18,266 more families. He further stated that 12,797 families have been successfully relocated, with 27,263 still awaiting resettlement.
Of the planned 75 resettlement colonies, 49 are currently under construction. The government aims to complete land acquisition by August and finalize the first phase of rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R) by June 2026.
Minister Ramanaidu also criticized the previous YSRCP government, stating that Polavaram Hill was split into two during their tenure and that they were responsible for proposing a reduced project height of 41.15 meters. He accused former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s administration of failing to construct even a single house in the resettlement colonies.
