RAJAMAHENDRAVARAM : Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu will launch concrete works of Polavaram multipurpose irrigation project later this month in the presence of Union Ministers M Venkaiah Naidu, Uma Bharti, Ashok Gajapathi Raju and Sujana Choudary.
Speaking to reporters at the project site at Polavaram on Thursday, Water Resources Minister Devineni Umamaheswara Rao said the Chief Minister who is keen on completing the project by 2018, is reviewing its work progress every week. A total sum of Rs 2,200 crore has been spent on the project so far.
As many as 83,932 acres of land has been acquired for the project against the requirement of 1.6 lakh acres. A sum of `28,000 crore has been paid as compensation for the project oustees. About 18,000 tonnes of steel and 10 lakh tonnes of cement have been kept ready for the project works. Digging of 2.38 lakh cubic metres of sand from Godavari river is also part of the construction work.
Laying of a four-lane road has been taken up to the project site to ensure smooth transport of construction material, he said.
Earlier, the minister inspected the work progress at the project site. Polavaram MLA Modiyam Srinivasa Rao, Engineer-in-Chief MV Rao, Delta Chief Engineer S Haribabu and other officials accompanied the minister during his visit to the project site.