Polavaram project

In news- The Supreme Court recently sought the response of the Telangana government and others on an appeal filed against an NGT order which had accepted the recommendations of a committee relating to the Polavaram project.

Key updates-

The Supreme court was hearing the appeal filed by Odisha government against the September 18, 2020 order of the NGT contending that it has erroneously accepted the report of a committee without affording the state an opportunity to be heard.
The NGT on September 18, 2020 had accepted the report of a four member Joint Committee comprising Central Pollution Control Board, Telangana State Pollution Control Board, Ministry of Environment and Forests and the District Collector, Khammam.
The committee had recommended that as per the interstate agreement on April 2, 1980 and final Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal award, Odisha and Chhattisgarh had to give their consent and exercise either one of options for construction of protective embankment or rehabilitation of affected people.

About Polavaram Project –

It is a major under construction multi-purpose irrigation project being constructed on the Godavari River, and spread across three states – Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Chhattisgarh.
It is in the West Godavari District and East Godavari District in Andhra Pradesh.
The project has been accorded National project status by the Union Government of India.
Its back water spreads into parts of Chhattisgarh and Odisha States.

The project envisages transfer of 80TMC of surplus Godavari water to river Krishna which will be shared between AP, Karnataka and Maharashtra in proportion to 45 TMC by AP and 35 TMC by Karnataka and Maharashtra as per the decision of the GWDT award.
It envisages construction of Earth-cum-Rock fill dam across river Godavari.
Once completed it will provide Irrigation benefits for the upland areas of East Godavari, Visakhapatnam Districts under Left Canal and West Godavari, Krishna Districts under Right Canal and will generate 960 MW of Hydro Electric Power.
In addition, this project will supply 23.4 TMC of drinking water to Visakhapatnam city and also to Vizag steel plant through its left canal.
It will also provide indirect benefits such as development of Pisciculture, tourism and urbanisation.
Odisha and Chhattisgarh shall be benefited with 5 TMC & 1.5 TMC of irrigation water respectively.