Minister Ambati blames Chandrababu govt for Polavaram delay

Amaravati, July 25: Irrigation Minister Ambati Rambabu on Monday gave presentation on Polavaram to explain the reasons for delay in completion of project construction. 
 
Showing a map, he mentioned that former chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu gave approval for construction of diaphragm wall without completing cofferdam. “Reason for taking up diaphragm wall construction was to get commissions from contractors without rehabilitating people living in 45 villages which will submerge once cofferdam is completed. Moreover, the previous TDP government did not complete spillway too,” he explained. 
 
Ambati stated that 45 villages have petitioned to the Centre and Polavram Project Authority (PPA) that the TDP government had taken up cofferdam construction without rehabilitating them. 
 
The minister said that the PPA directed the Chandrababu government not to go ahead with cofferdam without providing rehabilitation to 45 villages. “As a result, the TDP government stopped cofferdam construction and floods washed away diaphragm wall,” he slammed.