Water will flow from Polavaram by 2018, said state irrigation minister Devineni Umamaheswar Rao today. While chief minister Naidu cautiously avers that first phase of the Polavaram project would be completed by 2018. On other side, there is no clearance for the project from Odisha, and the centre washed off its hands by stating that it was for the Andhra Pradesh and Odisha to resolve the inter-state dispute.
Still, today Devineni announced that the state would ensure that the project would be completed by 2018. Polavaram is one of the few major issues along with Amaravati that that is going to influence the 2019 elections in Andhra Pradesh. Because, Polavaram, now a national project, is being taken up with the promise that it would transfer Godavari water to Krishna Basin and the water thus saved in Krishna would be diverted to Rayalaseema. On paper this shows the altruism of Telugu Desam government. But, there is a serious danger lurking in the hypothesis. If the project is completed by 2018 and Rayalaseema gets some water, this would certain to transform the politics of the state in favor of TDP. If the project could not be grounded before the next general elections, it would spell disaster for the ruling TDP.
In this connection, Devineni remarks assume significance. He reiterated today, after a visit to Polavaram project site accompanied by the senior officials of the department, that Polavaram project would be completed as scheduled by 2018. Isn’t he raising false hopes?
It is true, to demonstrate its commitment to complete project by 2018, TDP government earmarked Rs 3000 crore to the project in the present budget. Given the lack of clearances for the project and centre’s lack of interest to get the necessary clearances accorded overriding the objections from Odisha, how could the state complete the project by 2018. During his past two visits, Naidu tried desperately to call on union water resources minister Uma Bharati in New Delhi. He did not get an audience with the minister. This allocation of Rs 3000 crore is of course meant to silence the opposition party, but, what about the objections raised by Odisha. In the post-Bihar situation, BJP, is planning to regain the confidence of ruling BJD in Odisha, in an attempt to revive the old NDA, with an eye on the 2019 elections.
” Water will flow from Polavaram project, Jagan has to shut his mouth up,” Devineni said. Referring to corruption during YS Rajasekhar Reddy days, Devineni said, ” while corruption and money flowed in Jala Yagnam, now water flow in the canals,” he announced.
Devineni’s over enthusiasm is bound to keep the Polavaram issue alive which is not good for the ruling party. Instead it should silently strive and show the progress on ground. Polavaram is being anxiously watched by people from four districts of Rayalaseema.
