Polavaram Project | Chhattisgarh | 29 May 2025
Why in News?
The Prime Minister is going to chair a meeting with chief ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh to discuss the Polavaram project.
Key Points
- Polavaram Irrigation Project:
- Polavaram Project is located in Andhra Pradesh on the river Godavari, near Polavaram village.
- It is a multi-purpose irrigation project as the project once completed will provide irrigation benefits and will generate Hydroelectric Power.
- In addition, this project will also supply drinking water.
- It will facilitate an inter-basin transfer to the Krishna river basin through its Right canal.
- It will also provide indirect benefits such as the development of Pisciculture (breeding and rearing of fish), tourism and urbanisation.
- The Project has been accorded national project status by the union government in 2014 (under Section 90 of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act, 2014).
- Background & Related Issues:
- Despite multiple rounds of high-level deliberations, states have failed to resolve the inter-state disputes over the Polavaram project.
- Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana have filed petitions in the Supreme Court challenging aspects of the project such as regulatory compliance issues, impact on tribal communities, etc.
- Andhra Pradesh proposed constructing a retaining wall to protect villages facing submergence.
- However, Odisha and Chhattisgarh raised objections regarding land acquisition and inadequate rehabilitation measures.
Godavari River
- The Godavari is the largest Peninsular river system. It is also called the Dakshin Ganga.
- Source: Godavari River rises from Trimbakeshwar near Nasik in Maharashtra and flows for a length of about 1465 km before outfalling into the Bay of Bengal.
- Drainage Basin: The Godavari basin extends over the states of Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Odisha in addition to smaller parts in Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and the Union territory of Puducherry.
- Tributaries: Pravara, Purna, Manjra, Penganga, Wardha, Wainganga, Pranhita (combined flow of Wainganga, Penganga, Wardha), Indravati, Maner and the Sabri.
- Cultural Significance: Kumbh Mela also takes place on the banks of the Godavari River in Nashik.
- Godavari River Dispute: Godavari river water sharing is a bone of contention among Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Karnataka.
- Important Projects on Godavari:
- Polavaram Irrigation Project
- Kaleshwaram
- Sadarmatt Anicut across river Godavari is one of the two irrigation projects in the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID) Register of Heritage Irrigation Structures.
- Inchampalli: The Inchampalli project is proposed on the Godavari River about 12 km downstream of the confluence of Indravati with the Godavari River in Andhra Pradesh.
- It is a joint project among the States of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
- Sriram Sagar Project (SRSP): The Sriram Sagar Project is a multipurpose project, located across the Godavari River near Pochampad of Nizamabad District in Telangana.