HYDERABAD: Major Irrigation Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah has allayed fears expressed by some quarters about submergence of Bhadrachalam town under the reservoir of Polavaram project.

At a press conference here on Thursday, he said the Telugu Desam was carrying out "false propaganda" against Polavaram with a view to scuttle the project. "If Polavaram comes up, Telugu Desam will be wiped out in the area."

Assisted by P. Sitapathi Rao, advisor, Irrigation, the Minister discounted criticism against the present height of Polavaram dam and said Bhadrachalam would not face any flooding.

Even when the reservoir was full, there would be a gap of 40 ft between the lowest point of the town and the river flow. Even when full, with a maximum inflow of 36 lakh cusecs for which the design was prepared, the reservoir level would not exceed 135 ft mean sea level (MSL) and touch 175 ft MSL at which the temple town was located.

Solid structure

The design provided for construction of solid structure with a height of 150 ft MSL, but the storage would not touch this level at all because surplus waters would be sent out through sluices provided at a lower level of the dam as a special feature and not only by spillway.

Mr. Lakshmaiah ruled out reduction in dam height on the ground that this was finalised by experts at various points of time in the past 60 years working under different Governments. The original height proposed was 206 ft, but it was reduced to the present level.

He said tribals need not entertain apprehensions about rehabilitation as all-facility colonies would be built for them in place of the displaced 230 villages.

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