YS Sharmila Criticizes Delay in Polavaram Project, Blames Centre and State

By A Staff Reporter

Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh: Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) President YS Sharmila has criticized the BJP-led central government and Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu over delays in the Polavaram Project, calling the stagnation a serious lapse that has impacted the state's farmers.

Speaking to reporters in Vijayawada, Sharmila said, “Polavaram was intended for the good of whole of Andhra Pradesh. If Polavaram is executed at its originally intended time with a water storage capacity of 45 metres, it would solve a lot of problems for the farmers of the state.”

She alleged that the delay is due to “a lot of lethargy on the part of Chandrababu Naidu and the BJP government who is heading this nation,” adding that the project’s potential remains largely unrealized due to administrative inefficiency and lack of political will.

The Polavaram Project, a multi-purpose irrigation and hydroelectric venture on the Godavari River, has been mired in delays for years despite its national project status. While successive governments have promised completion, concerns over rehabilitation, cost overruns, and coordination between the Centre and State have slowed progress.