Polavaram backwaters: Riparian states to push for reassessment of project impact ahead of May 28 review by Modi

Officials from these states argue that the project- designed to harness the Godavari water- would be causing severe submergence issues, affecting villages and farmlands in bordering areas.

Hyderabad: The riparian states of Telangana, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha are set to raise fresh concerns over the backwater impact of the Polavaram project as the Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to hold a review on the progress of the massive irrigation initiative being implemented in AP with central funding on May 28. Officials from these states argue that the project- designed to harness the Godavari water- would be causing severe submergence issues, affecting villages and farmlands in bordering areas.

They have repeatedly urged the Jal Shakti Ministry and the Central Water Commission to conduct a third-party study assessing potential risks. Some of the states are fighting level battles moving the supreme court. At the full reservoir level (FRL) of 45.72 meters, the Polavaram dam’s backwaters are projected to inundate vast tracts of land in the neighboring states. In Telangana, approximately 100-150 villages, including parts of Bhadrachalam, will be affected either partially or fully. Critical infrastructure like the Manuguru Heavy Water Plant will be impacted.

Chhattisgarh is fearing that 10-20 tribal villages in Dantewada and Sukma areas will be flooded. It may result in displacement of 5,000-10,000 residents. In Odisha, over 100 villages in Malkangiri could be submerged, affecting 50,000-60,000 tribal people. Agricultural lands, forests, and biodiversity across these states are also at risk, with estimates suggesting an overall area of 25,000-35,000 acres could be inundated.

The project is lacking in comprehensive backwater studies. Public hearings mandated by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change are pending. Telangana has commissioned IIT-Hyderabad to study the impact, while Odisha and Chhattisgarh demand independent assessments, citing violations of the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal Award.

Andhra Pradesh is hopeful that the critical review to be chaired by the Prime Minister would help expedite environmental clearances and lead to the implementation of viable mitigation measures like embankments or drainage systems as proposed to avoid risks involved with the backwaters. The chief secretaries of the four key states are likely to take part in the exercise. But in the absence of a concrete action plan to address the concerns of the neighbouring state, it would be an uphill task to complete the project as targeted by 2027.