The works on AP’s dream project – the Polavaram multi-purpose irrigation project, are going full-throttle. The YSRCP government, which has gone in for reverse tendering process to eliminate irregularities and financial misdemeanors, has allocated the works on the prestigious project to the Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Ltd (MEIL). The works have begun in the right earnest from November 1 with a formal Bhoomi Pooja at the project spillway.
From Thursday, the works have picked pace in the spillway. On Day 1, concrete works in 100 cubic meters area would be completed. The per day target is of the order of 2000 cubic meters. The AP irrigation department too has prepared plans to complete the project work as per schedule. As part of it 1.50 crore cubic metres of work would be completed at the Rockfill Dam site by June 21. The Spillway works would be completed by June 2020.
If the works go as per schedule, water would be stored in the Polavaram project by 2020 end. The MEIL too is racing against time to ensure that the works go as per plan.
It may be recalled here that Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy cancelled the contracts and resorted to reverse tendering for Polavaram headworks and hydropower station. In this process, MEIL came forward to take up the works with a 12.6 per cent less amount, i.e., Rs. 4358 crores. With this, the state government saved Rs 628 crores to the exchequer. The state government invited the bid for Rs 4987 crores. MEIL is the sole bidder for the project in the reverse tendering process. MEIL is pooling all its capabilities to complete this multi-purpose project before the deadline.