In Episode 1591 of CutTheClutter, Editor-in-Chief Shekhar Gupta looks at the decades of delays, cost overruns, and governance hurdles that have plagued the project.
Last year, when BJP returned to power at Centre relying heavily on Naidu-led TDP, an agreement was reached on disbursal of additional Rs 10,911 crore for project, it is learnt.
In white paper, TDP govt alleged Jagan ‘diverted Rs 3,385 crore meant for project’ & ‘delay in commissioning of hydel power project resulted in loss of over Rs 3000 cr to exchequer’.
Since work on the project started in 2005, the project cost has swollen manifold. State govt officials hope that the upcoming general and assembly polls will help speed things up.
A team of senior officials from AP were in Delhi since Wednesday to meet with secretaries of Union Jal Shakti and Finance Ministry to discuss key issues regarding the project.
Jal Shakti ministry has asked finance ministry to reimburse over Rs 4,000 cr that Andhra Pradesh has spent on the drinking water component of the project.
Polavaram Project Authority to request the Centre to approve Rs 47,725 crore to complete the project instead of Rs 20,398 crore that finance ministry had estimated based on 2013-14 price levels.
An angry Jagan Mohan Reddy has shot off a letter to PM Modi over finance ministry capping project cost to Rs 20,398 cr as against the Rs 47,725 cr the state wants. Both sides meet Monday.
Ruling YSR Congress Party and opposition TDP have been trading barbs, particularly over cost of remaining work on the Godavari river project & change of bidder.
In tactical terms, the shirtless protest was worse than a self-goal. Suddenly, the fiascos of the AI Summit were forgotten, and the Youth Congress’s disruption became the issue.
IAF is fine with accepting the aircraft with 'must-haves', even if some other steps remain pending, which may take at least another year, it is learnt.
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