Key Facts about Polavaram Project

About Polavaram Project:

• It is a multi-purpose irrigation project built on the Godavari River where the river emerges out of the last range of the Eastern Ghats and enters the plains.
• The dam will be located near Polavaram village in the West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh, an area bordering Chhattisgarh and Odisha.
• It was conceived in 1980 as a part of the recommendations of the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal (GWDT).
• It has been accorded national project status by the central government.
• It involves the construction of a dam to address water scarcity, boost agricultural productivity, and generate power.
  • The span of the dam is about 1.2 km, having a pier height of 54 m and a total of 48 radial gates (16mx20m).
  • Designed to withstand massive floods that could occur once in 1000 years, the Polavaram Spillway is set to have the highest discharge capacity in the world.
  • At 50 lakh cusecs, it is set to surpass even the 3 Gorges Dam of China, one of the largest dams in the world.
  • The project has set a world record by pouring 32,315.5 cubic metres of concrete into the spillway channel of the project.
• Objectives:
  • It is intended for the development of a gross irrigation potential of 4,36,825 ha.
  • The project also envisages the generation of 960 MW of hydropower and drinking water supply to a population of 28.50 lakh in 611 villages.
  • The project also aims to transfer 80 TMC (Thousand Million Cubic Feet) of water from the Godavari to the Krishna river basin.
  • The dam will help manage floodwaters from the Godavari River, reducing risks to nearby communities.