Polavaram Irrigation Project Overview

The Polavaram Irrigation Project is on the river Godavari near Ramayyapeta village in Polavaram. It was conceptualized by Diwan Bahadur L. Venkata Krishna Iyer in 1941. Tanguturi Anjaiah, the chief minister of India, laid the foundation stone for the project in 1980. The Government of India owns the project, and the AP government executes it on its behalf. It was first called the Ramapada Sagar Project, also known as the Indira Sagar Project.

This multipurpose project was drafted to develop a gross irrigation potential of 4,36,825 hectares. It is also expected to generate 960 MW of hydropower and supply drinking water to a population of 28.50 lakh and 611 villages.

The Polavaram dam project has an annual power generation of 2369.43 million units. In this project, the Godavari-Krishna interlinking will be executed under the river interlinking project. The project aims to transfer 80 TMC surplus water from the Godavari River to the Krishna River. It will be split between Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra in the ratio of 45 TMC by Andhra Pradesh, 35 TMC by Karnataka, and Maharashtra, as per the GWDT Award.

Polavaram Irrigation Project Scope

The Polavaram dam Irrigation Project is a multipurpose project on the river Godavari. It is designed to facilitate Irrigation, generate hydro-electric power, and supply drinking water to 611 villages. The project scope highlights the following ambitions.

• Irrigation: The project aims to provide an irrigation potential of 4,36,825 ha. The upland areas of the East Godavari and Visakhapatnam on the Left Flank and the upland areas of the West Godavari and the Krishna District on the right flank will enjoy the irrigation facility by the Polavaram dam Project.  As a result, it will boost agricultural production.

• Hydropower Generation: The Andhra Pradesh State has a hydro power generation capacity of 3000 megawatts. The Polavaram Project will place a 960 MW hydroelectric power plant to tackle the river’s energy for producing electricity.

• Water Supply: The project will ensure a drinking water facility for a population of 28.50 lakh and 611 villages. Moreover, the project provides 23,440 million cubic feet of water resource for drinking and industrial use for the Visakhapatnam township and steel plant. 

• Inter - Basin Water Transfer: The project aims to transfer 80 TMC surplus water from the Godavari River to the Krishna River. Thus, it will enhance the navigability of waterways and support economic activity.

Polavaram Project location

Source: Bharati, Luna & Smakhtin, Vladimir & Anand, B.. (2009). Modeling water supply and demand scenarios: The Godavari-Krishna inter-basin transfer, India. Water Policy. 11. 10.2166/wp.2009.109. 

The Polavaram Irrigation Project is located in the West Godavari and East Godavari districts of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is on the Godavari River near Ramayyapeta village. It is about 34 km upstream of the Kovvur-Rajahmundry road-cum-rail bridge and 42 km upstream of Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage, where the river appears out of the last range of the Eastern Ghats and enters the plain in the West Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh.

Project cost for the Polavaram Project

The currently accepted cost, as per the latest official approvals, appears to be INR 55,548.87 crore (at the 2017–18 price level). Due to the alluvium on one flank, sands on the other, and acceptable rock at great depths, the scheme proved very costly.

Project background

A pronounced interest in the Multipurpose Project on the river Godavari was borne in the early forties. The Ramapadasagar Project Report, prepared in 1951, was an outcome of that. It is a part of the recommendations of the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal (GWDT). The GDWT finalized its award in 1980. The award pinpoints individual projects that can be grasped by the states of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh on the Godavari River.

The three states - Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Odisha signed an agreement on 02-04-1980. This is to enable authorization for Andhra Pradesh to undertake the Polavaram dam Project. The agreement provides the construction of the project with a Full Reservoir Level of 150 feet. A Spillway discharging capacity of 36 Lakh Cusecs at a pond level of 140 feet and not less than 20 Lakh Cusecs at a pond level of 130 feet.  Adequate drainage sluices have been brought to protect the land above 150 feet in Orissa and Chhattisgarh.

The state of Orissa may have an option to receive compensation for land and property affected above 150 feet at the time of construction of the Polavaram Project. It is as agreed in the case of Madhya Pradesh (now Chhattisgarh). For any damages incurred to lands beyond 150 feet in the domain of M.P., the state of Andhra Pradesh is liable to pay full compensation for such damages as assessed by the District collector of the state of Madhya Pradesh.

The Central Water Commission is accountable for the design and operation of the dam. They should decide after considering all the agreements between the parties, including the agreement of 2 April 1980. 

Necessity of the Polavaram Project

Irrigation Aspect

Andhra Pradesh is an agricultural state that generates over 51.58% of its income through agriculture. Out of 11.49 million hectares of net area, only 3.34 million hectares of land is irrigated under canals, tanks, and wells. Thus, it is evident that only about 14% of the net area sown is under irrigation, compared to the All-India figure of 22.2%, 24% in Uttar Pradesh, and 35% in Punjab.

The upland areas in the East Godavari and Visakhapatnam on the Left flank and the upland of West Godavari and Krishna Districts on the right flank have no other sources of dependable supply except the Godavari River. The failure of rains brought a condition of drought. It is essential to safeguard the irrigation of these areas from a dependable source of supply.

Power Aspect

Andhra Pradesh is the fifth-largest state in India and has vast industrial potential. It has plenty of raw materials and human resources. The state’s hydropower generation is approximately 3,000 Megawatts. And its use is hardly 1,652.9 megawatts. It has high-quality inland waterways and a road communication system. Though the state has all the infrastructure for industrialization, the state is profit-wise backward.

The main reason is the lack of cheap and abundant electric power. Even in the rural areas, 24,782 Villages out of 27,379 have an electric supply. According to the Polavaram Irrigation Project, 960 megawatts of seasonal power during the monsoon season and 80 megawatts of firm power can rise.

Flood Control

Godavari floods cause damage to standing crops and loss of property. The floods of 1953, 1959, and 1986 caused great disasters in the Godavari Districts. Through the Polavaram Irrigation Project, the river can be conquered, the flows regulated before the river enters the plains, and the recurring flood havoc can be reduced.

Project Timeline

Contactors

NECL’s biggest achievement at the Polavaram irrigation project 

NECL sets the world record for achievements for the ‘Most concrete continuously poured in 24 hours’ and the ‘largest continuous concrete pour’ at the Polavarm Irrigation Project.

Polavarm is a mega infrastructure landmark with 48 gates, each 20 m high and 16 m wide. To complete the project, 38.1 lakh cubic meters, 50,000 tonnes of steel, and  9,30,000 tonnes of cement must be poured. It is a dream project for the five crore people of Andhra Pradesh.

NECL will showcase its superior and world-class engineering capabilities and will make the state drought-free forever upon the completion of the project. One of the largest reservoir dam projects in India, Polavarm, will have a live storage capacity of  2,136 million cusecs. It will also ensure a water supply to an aggregate population of 20 million. Once completed, it will irrigate a total of 42 lakh acres of Ayacut in two phases.

NECL created a world record by pouring 32,315.5 cubic metres of concrete into the spillway channel of the project. With it, they secured two Guinness World Records Achievements - one for the ‘most concrete continuously poured in 24 hours’ and the second for the ‘largest continuous concrete pour’.

For these two record titles, the concrete work to fill the spill channel blocks began on 6th January 2019 and was concluded on 7th January 2019. India has not seen a project of this size and scale and with these 2 Guinness World Records titles. NECL has not just accomplished a colossal infrastructure milestone but has brought India into the global map of world-class engineering capabilities.

Investors of the Indira Sagar Irrigation Project

Project Polavaram was featured in Andhra Pradesh's Union. Budget

As part of the Union Budget 2025-26, the AP Government allocated additional funds to the Polavaram Multipurpose Irrigation Project. While INR 5,936 crore was allocated for Polavaram for the upcoming fiscal year, an additional balance grant of INR 12,157 crore has also been given following the acceptance of the revised estimated cost of the project cost sent by the State Government to the Centre. 

Important questions for Funding regarding the Polavaram project

Q.1 Whether the Ministry has accepted the proposal of the State Government of Andhra Pradesh for releasing INR 10,000 crores as ad hoc money for taking up work of Polavaram irrigation project?

• According to an office memo dated 05-06-2023, the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, does not oppose additional funding for completing the balance work of PIP for filling of water up to 41.15 meters, a sum of INR 10,911.15 crore and INR 2,000 crore for the repair of damage to PIP caused by flood, subject to the Cabinet's approval, by amending the earlier Cabinet decision. The government of Andhra Pradesh's proposal to release INR 10,000 crore is incorporated in the above no objection letter.

Q.2  Whether it is also true that INR 17,140 crores is required to complete the first phase of the Resettlement and Rehabilitation (R&R) package covering 36 affected villages? 

• PIP will be implemented in two phases. By a letter dated 05.06.2023, the Government of Andhra Pradesh has submitted a revised cost estimate for balance works for phase I, i.e., for storing water up to EL 41.15 m for INR 17,144.06 crore. It also includes the cost of rehabilitating and resettling 16,642 additional project-affected families of 36 villages in phase I itself rather than phase II.

Polavaram Project Current Status

Recently, the state government approved INR 990 crore for constructing a new diaphragm wall for the Earth-cum-Rock Fill dam, enhancing the project's scope. The project aims to improve irrigation and hydroelectric power generation.

Financial allocation and construction plan

• The recent approval involves a diaphragm wall construction costing INR 990 crore.
• The overall workspace will increase up to 63,656 square meters.
• The construction will take place in two phases - the First phase at INR 675.98 crore and the Second phase at INR.

Impact on Irrigation and Water Management

The project aims to generate a gross irrigation potential of 4,36,825 hectares.  In total, it will support 10.80 lakh acres annually. The project also facilitates water diversion to the Krishna River basin. Additionally, the project will provide water to industries, enhancing local economic development.

Impact of Papikonda National Park

• The project’s water supply will impact Papikonda National Park in the East and West Godavari Districts of Andhra Pradesh. 
• It is the only home for a dwarf breed of goat called “Kanchu Mekha”
• The project must balance development with environmental conservation.
• This area is rich in biodiversity and home to endangered species.
•  

Regional Benefits and Tourism 

The project expects to boost tourism in the Godavari Districts. The reservoir will improve accessibility to natural attractions like the Papikonda National Park. This can enhance local livelihoods through increased tourist activity. 

Advantages

The completion of the Polavaram Irrigation Project will bring along many advantages. Irrigation will be provided for 2.91 ha of agricultural land through this project. It will increase agricultural production to 109 Lakhs M.T per annum, adding to food security and farmer livelihood. Not only this, but it will also generate hydroelectric power in the state, cutting down its dependence on fossil fuels.

The project will raise the power generation by 960 MW. It will make the diversion of 2.27 T M. Cum. (80 TM. Cft) of Godavari Waters into the: Krishna River and content the water supply to Visakhapatnam city and nearby villages.

Alongside this, the project will ease water transport for mineral and forest products as well as agricultural and industrial products. Finally, it will open up opportunities for recreation, urbanization, and pisciculture, enriching local communities with tourism potential and urban growth and making it a cornerstone of regional development.

Future Expansion of Polavaram Project

Infrastructure development

The diaphragm wall is slated for completion in December 2025, alongside working on the earth-cum-rock-fillied dam to speed up progress. The left and right canals will be built between April and July 2026 to channel water efficiently.

Capacity Enhancement

The work proceeds on the twin tunnels linking the right canal to the main dam. The aim was to double their water flow capacity for future needs.

Interlinking Vision

The AP government is moving forward to connect the Godavari, Krishna, and Penna rivers through the Polavaram Project. It’s aiming to complete it by June 2027. It will extend the project's reach, indirectly raising its impact. The government has planned to undertake the Godavari-Banakacherla project at an estimated cost of INR 80,112 crore and complete the same in three years.

Scale and Specs

The dam’s spillway, designed to discharge INR 50 Lakh cusecs, will be the world's largest dam, leaving behind China’s Three Gorges Dam in flood-handling capacity.

Summary

Polavaram Irrigation is a multi-purpose project on the river Godavari. It was conceptualized in 1941. The Andhra Pradesh Government operates the project on behalf of the Government of India. The project aims to generate an irrigation potential of 4,36,825 hectares. On its completion, it will provide irrigation for 2.91 hectare of agricultural land.

It also generates hydroelectric power in the state and supplies drinking water to 611 villages. The project also faces some delays due to funding shortages, technical challenges, land acquisition, and political changes. By mid-2026, the main canals will be completed, and an additional diaphragm wall will be constructed. The revised completion deadline is October 2026.

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