On Wednesday, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu handed over a cheque worth ₹226.61 crore to families affected by the Polavaram Project. This payment represents the third installment of land acquisition, rehabilitation, and resettlement (R&R) compensation. During the event at his official residence, the CM hailed the displaced persons as heroes whose sacrifices are making the project a reality. He emphasized that the Polavaram Project is the “lifeline” of Andhra Pradesh and, once linked with other rivers, will transform the state’s agricultural landscape.
The Chief Minister also provided a technical update, noting that the reconstruction of the critical diaphragm wall—which was damaged due to the negligence of previous administrations—is nearing completion. The project, costing approximately ₹1,000 crore for this specific wall alone, is expected to reach a milestone within a week. CM Naidu expressed high confidence that the overall project would be finished within two months after next year’s Ugadi, finally fulfilling a decades-old dream for the people of Andhra Pradesh.
According to the official report, the coalition government has significantly accelerated compensation payments, disbursing a total of ₹1,943 crore to over 26,000 displaced persons in the last 21 months. Currently, the government is working on 75 rehabilitation colonies, with 26 already completed. Each displaced family is receiving ₹3.5 lakh for house construction, alongside an increased allocation of ₹2 lakh for house sites. The government aims to complete the full rehabilitation process for identified families by April 2027, requiring an additional investment of approximately ₹3,500 crore.
