President’s Nod To Polavaram Bill

President Pranab Mukherjee has given his assent to a bill that facilitates handing over of over 530 villages spread across seven mandals in Telangana to the residual state of Andhra Pradesh for setting up of the multi-purpose Polavaram irrigation project.

The President has given his consent to Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill yesterday making it an Act, official sources said.

The Bill was passed by Parliament last week.

The project involves relocation of about 50,000 families especially in Khammam in Telangana, besides 2,000 families in Odisha and Chhattisgarh.

Polavaram project has been accorded national project status by the Centre. The dam across the Godavari river is under construction and located in West Godavari district and East Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh, with its reservoir spreading to parts of Chhattisgarh and Odisha.