State PCS - Chhattisgarh (CGPSC)

• 29 May 2025

Polavaram Project

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.