Quality concerns continue to haunt Polavaram project, despite foreign experts’ recommendations
After examining the Polavaram project, the foreign expert committee emphasized that an independent monitoring mechanism is needed. File | Photo Loan: Hindu
Despite the repetition recommendations from an international expert team, it seems that there has been no significant step in the implementation of quality control measures in the execution of the Polavaram Irrigation Project.
The General Ministry of Union insisted on taking action, but the progress on this front is stagnant. In the restructuring of the diaphragm wall, only 30% of the structure was completed and critical quality control mechanisms have not yet been fully processed.
According to information, the guidelines and instructions related to quality control have not yet been published. A draft guide prepared by andhra Pradesh Engineering Research Institute (AFRRI) is waiting for the approval of the agency at various central and state levels, including the Central Water Commission (CWC), Polavaram Project Authority (PPA) and EP Water Resources Department.
Sources say the delay in the approval of the draft guide stems from objections brought to the agenda by some agencies.
Structural Settings
During the construction of the Polavaram project, the old diaphragm wall – with hundreds of Crore costs – serious structural disruptions occurred. In addition, the ‘guide-bund’, which is worth 100 crore, was damaged.
Uncontrolled infiltration through both the top and the lower Cofferdams caused significant losses by forcing the government to spend more water discharge. Although the new diaphragm wall began six months ago, only 30% of the construction was completed.
After too much delay, third -party quality control agency was selected. So far, quality audits have been discussed internally by contractor and state engineering departments. However, after examining the project, the Foreign Expert Committee emphasized the need for an independent monitoring mechanism by stating the central role in the design and review of the work, not only in the execution and also in the design and review.
Third party quality assurance
Experts also suggested that there should be a solid third -party quality assurance mechanism to ensure neutrality and transparency. It took about six months to finalize the appointment of the third party. Initially, consultations were made with well -known institutions such as IT, Tirupati and National Building Construction Institute.
However, the JAL Shakti Ministry of Union did not approve the proposed regulations and asked the government to tender. The sources, “Finally, a Delhi-based company with more than 45 years of experience.
At this point, it is an important bottleneck that the lack of a final guide defining net quality standards for various components of the project.
Experts believe that especially in terms of quality control, the roles and responsibilities of each agency should be clearly stated. The guide must put open protocols for test procedures and assign accountability for each segment of the study with the responsible authority.
The third -party agency is expected to establish an independent laboratory with equipment and resources necessary to perform real -time quality controls on the site. Sources say that the concerns about structural integrity and long -term reliability will continue to overshadow the state’s most ambitious irrigation project until they come into force of such systems.
Published – 23 July 2025 02:11