Polavaram backwaters: PPA, CWC officials tour Kothagudem to assess impact

Officials of the Polavaram Project Authority and Central Water Commission toured Kothagudem district to assess the impact of backwaters amid uncertainty over the extent of land submergence in Telangana.

Kothagudem: Even as there has been an ambiguity over the extent of land that would be submerged in Telangana due to Polavaram backwaters, Polavaram Project Authority (PPA) and Central Water Commission officials toured the district to assess the impact of the project.

Sarpanches, elected members and MLAs representing the affected areas in Kothagudem district met with PPA CEO Sanjeev Vohra and submitted representations seeking to assess the loss that farmers in the district would suffer due to the project.

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In view of alleged efforts by the PPA to demonstrate that a lesser area under the tributaries of the river Godavari would be submerged due to the project backwaters, the farmers and local residents in Burgampad, Bhadrachalam, Aswapuram, Manuguru, Pinapaka and other areas want a comprehensive survey conducted to ensure justice for affected persons.

Pinapaka MLA Payam Venkateswarlu and Bhadrachalam MLA Dr. Tellam Venkat Rao asserted that immediate justice must be rendered to those affected by the Polavaram backwaters and that prompt measures must be undertaken to safeguard the affected villages.

They insisted that the government must pay compensation to the affected villagers, undertake the construction of protective embankments and come up with a comprehensive plan, besides a substantial relief package for all those adversely affected within the submergence areas.

In addition to the Burgampahad and Aswapuram mandals, villages such as Nagineniprolu, Reddypalem and others would bear the impact of Polavaram backwaters. The actual extent of agricultural land at risk of inundation was far greater than official estimates suggested.

Hundreds of families primarily belonging to the SC, ST, and BC communities were in danger of being displaced. Aswapuram Heavy Water Plant might also face a potential flood threat in the future.
Hence a scientific backwater survey in the affected areas should be conducted, the MLAs suggested.

Similarly, Burgampad sarpanch Manda Nagaraju, leaders from various political parties met with PPA officials and apprised them of the imminent threat facing Burgampad due to the proposed increase in the height of the Polavaram project.

The officials stated that based on the survey findings, they would identify the villages facing submergence and submit a report to the Centre incorporating the details regarding protective measures for the affected areas.