Parliament Question: Funding for Polavaram Phase-I

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3007 ANSWERED ON 06.08.2026 FUNDING FOR POLAVARAM PHASE-I

3007. Shri P V MIDHUN REDDY:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has approved funding for Polavaram Phase-I (storage up to 41.15 metres) and the subsequent sanction of the recent multi- tranche grants for completion of the project and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the project is on track to achieve the 41.15 metre storage milestone by the 2027 timeline and the critical construction milestones that remain to be completed and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the sanctioned grant is exclusively for Phase-I works or also includes canal networks, the powerhouse and outstanding rehabilitation and resettlement liabilities and if so, the details thereof; and

(d) the status of compliance by the State Government of Andhra Pradesh with technical and financial preconditions, including submission of updated project reports and utilisation certificates, required for release of the remaining grant tranches as of June, 2026? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI (SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY)

(a) Government of India has approved funding for Polavaram Irrigation Project Phase-I (storage up to Elevation Level (EL) +41.15 metres) for Rs.30,436.95 crore at 2023 Price Level with the balance central grants for the 1project limited to Rs.12,157.53 crore. Subsequently, grant of Rs 5,512.40 crore was released for the project in Financial Year 2024-25 and Rs 2810.22 in Financial Year 2025-26.

(b) The project is on track to achieve the 41.15 metre storage milestone and the critical construction milestones such as construction of the main dam in Gap-I & Gap-II, Land Acquisition (LA) and Rehabilitation & Resettlement (R&R) works are targeted for completion by June, 2027.

(c) The Central Grant is limited to Phase-I works for water storage up to EL +41.15 m. It covers all civil works of the project up to the Full Reservoir Level

(FRL) of EL +45.72 m, LA and R&R works up to EL +41.15 m, and the Left & Right Main Canals. The cost of the Power House component of the Project is to be borne by the Government of Andhra Pradesh.

(d) The Government of Andhra Pradesh is timely furnishing the necessary technical documents and utilisation certificates as per the requirement.

Polavaram Project Authority under DoWR, RD&GR examines the technical documents and utilisation certificates submitted by Government of Andhra Pradesh before release of funds. ***** 2