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New Delhi, 11th June 2018:
Today marks a significant milestone in one of India’s largest multi-purpose projects happening at a rapid pace. A major step forward in completing the lifeline of Andhra Pradesh, Polavaram project as diaphragm wall construction, first of its kind for irrigation projects in the country is complete.
Hon’ble Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Shri Nara Chandrababu Naidu inaugurated the pylon marking the completion of diaphragm wall today (11.06.2018) at the project site in West Godavari district, AP.
“Proud to inform that 55.12% of the project has been completed. The workers, planners, and engineers involved in the Polavaram irrigation project have worked hard with incredible dedication. With the completion of the diaphragm wall pylon, the project will soon reach its final stage”, Chandrababu Naidu said.
Diaphragm wall forms the foundation for Earth-cum-Rock-Fill (ECRF) dam of the Polavaram project that is going to be built of 150 feet high to store 194 TMCs of water. The diaphragm wall that is constructed below ECRF prevents the leakage of water across the dam from the bottom of ECRF through sand pores.
Overcoming all the hurdles step by step, with the Chief Minister’s relentless efforts for project completion, this diaphragm wall was completed within a record time of 414 working days (79 days flood season in between) since 1st February 2017 when Chief Minister laid the foundation.
The diaphragm wall of 5 feet thick is constructed over a length of about 1400 meters and about 130 to 307 feet depth below the ground. By deploying the latest German technology, the diaphragm wall is constructed using a special clay construction material called ‘bentonite’ to make it absolute waterproof. This can facilitate the hassle-free project construction even during the flood season without any leakages or breaches.
It is noted that over 2500 workers and 500 engineers worked on a mission mode towards completing the diaphragm wall, key in Polavaram project construction.
Chief Minister so far conducted 25 physical inspections and 63 virtual inspections (every week). With this new vigor instilled by the Chief Minister, the Polavaram project is already 55% complete and heading towards completion at a rapid pace.
Aiming to make Andhra Pradesh a drought-free state, Chandrababu Naidu is on a constant mission mode in implementing water conservation measures and completing over 40 irrigation projects.
Polavaram, a multi-purpose project being built on River Godavari though conceptualized in 1941 gained pace in its construction only after 2014. This project will help irrigate over 7.2 lakh acres among many other benefits. The project will benefit all 13 districts of AP directly or indirectly.
