HYDERABAD: Faced with criticism against possible extensive submersion in Khammam district, the Andhra Pradesh Government has introduced a new component to the Polavaram project to protect the threatened villages. It will construct a 44-km long flood bank at a cost of Rs. 307.5 crore.

The flood bank will be a massive structure with a height of 189 feet. It has been so designed since the water level in the Godavari had touched 182.6 feet, the highest point in its recorded history at Bhadrachalam during the worst-ever floods in 1986 when the inflows reached 35 lakh cusecs. During this year's monsoon, there were widespread apprehensions that the Polavaram project, once completed, would wreak havoc in Khammam district.

Fears allayed

Major Irrigation Minister P. Lakshmaiah said here on Wednesday that the "China Wall-like structure" would have a freeboard of 6 ft above the level touched in 1986 and act as a barrier. Quoting an empirical study, he said the 1986 kind floods, however, would occur only once in 500 years.

Talking to reporters after discussions with officials on various aspects of the much-criticised project, the Minister said Polavaram dam would, however, be constructed to a height of 150 ft but it would be capable of discharging flood water of 49 lakh cusecs. The study showed that such a level of flood would occur only once in 10,000 years. Satish Chandra, secretary, Irrigation, was present.

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