Hyderabad, May 12: In the wake of criticism from the Opposition and of late from Praja Rajyam president Chiranjeevi, chief minister K Rosaiah wanted the irrigation department to complete the Polavaram project by 2014.
He gave this direction at an unscheduled meeting with the department officials. In fact the Chief Minister cancelled a review of the working of the roads and buildings department and instead turned his attention to the Polavaram project.
The chief minister wanted irrigation department officials to complete all the administrative work with regard to the project so that operations could begin for construction of the rock fill dam, spillway and power stations.
He directed them to complete the tender process and enter into agreements with the contractors by the end of June.
Speaking to reporters here today, major irrigation minister P Lakshmaiah said the project was receiving funds from the Centre under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme and it was due to get national project status.
The tenders called on August 28 last year would be finalised, he said and added that there would be no change in the design and height of the project.
Lakshmaiah said the project was designed to sustain a maximum flood of 50 lakh cusecs.
–Agencies