Polavaram-Nallamalla Sagar project will not harm anyone: CM Chandrababu Naidu
Amaravati, Jan 12
Amid the ongoing dispute with Telangana over the sharing of river waters, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Monday defended the proposed Polavaram-Nallamalla Sagar link project, saying it will not harm anyone.
He wondered what was wrong with using water released from upstream in the Godavari River and diverting it at Polavaram to Nallamalla Sagar.
"I never objected when Telangana built its projects. Both Telugu states can efficiently utilise the Godavari waters," he said.
The Chief Minister was speaking at a meeting with ministers and secretaries at the Secretariat.
He said the Polavaram project will be completed and dedicated to the nation before Godavari Pushkaram.
He stated that Polavaram is a magnificent project and once it is completed, no state in South India can compete with Andhra Pradesh.
"Every year, 3,000 TMC of water goes to waste into the sea. By providing water to the Krishna delta through Pattiseema, we are saving water in Srisailam and giving it to Rayalaseema. Through Nallamala Sagar, there is an opportunity to provide water to Rayalaseema, Prakasam, and other regions," he said.
He stated that Telangana State will also have the opportunity to utilise the surplus water from Polavaram.
Chief Minister Naidu said that Bhogapuram International Airport will also be dedicated to the nation soon.
He claimed that the coalition government has saved Visakhapatnam Steel Plant with the cooperation of the Central government and the assistance of Rs 12,000 crore.
"Visakhapatnam Steel Plant is a sentiment for the people of Andhra Pradesh, and we will definitely protect that plant," he said.
The Chief Minister revealed that Andhra Pradesh attracted 25 per cent of the foreign investments that came into the country during the current financial year.
Stating that Andhra Pradesh has become a destination for investments, he said that if all the agreements made through Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) materialise, 16 lakh jobs will be created.
"We have also approved investments worth Rs 8.74 lakh crore through the State Investment Promotion Board. These will also generate a large number of jobs," he said.
He noted that Google is also setting up an AI data centre in Visakhapatnam with an investment of $15 billion.
He congratulated the officials and government departments who worked hard to bring investments to the state.
"We will soon lay the foundation for the Quantum Valley in Amaravati. A quantum computer will be operational here within six months," he said.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Good to hear about protecting the Vizag Steel Plant. It's more than just a factory, it's an emotion for Andhra people. Hope the promises on jobs from these investments are real and not just headlines.
"Will not harm anyone" – I hope this includes a proper environmental impact assessment and talks with Telangana. River water disputes have caused enough tension between our Telugu brothers. Cooperation is key.
The scale of ambition here is impressive. A quantum computer in six months? Google's AI center? If even half of this comes true, Andhra could become a major tech hub. The competition with Hyderabad will be interesting to watch.
While the vision is grand, I'm cautiously optimistic. We've heard big promises on Polavaram for years. Let's see the completion first before celebrating. The focus should be on timely execution, not just announcements.
Using surplus water that goes to the sea is smart planning. This is the kind of interlinking project India needs more of. Hope the centre supports it fully. Water security is national security.
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