Polavaram Dam Spillway - Tourist attraction in Pydipaka - West Godavari, India

It was still under construction but it was an prestigious project for Andhra Pradesh. It even provides water to Vizag and every part of Andhra Pradesh. CM Chandra Babu Naidu was working hard to finish the project with in next 5years. A lot of work has been completed and a lot has to be completed. Work was in a great process. Many 1000's were working and great to see the project while in progress.

Preamble The Polavaram Irrigation Project is a Multipurpose one conferring Irrigation benefits in the upland areas of Visakhapatnam, East Godavari, West Godavari and Krishna Districts. It also envisages drinking water supply to Visakhapatnam Township and other towns and villages enroute and Industrial water supply to the Visakhapatnam coast based Steel Plant and other industries in the vicinity, generation of Hydal Power, affording Navigation facilities, development of pisciculture and providing recreation and other benefits, besides urbanisation. The Project also provides diversion of 2,27 T. M.Cum (80 TMC ft.) of Godavari Waters to Krishna Basin. The Project is located in Andhra Pradesh near Polavaram village about 34 KMs. (21 Miles) upstream of Kovvur - Rajahmundry Road and 42 KM. (26 Miles) upstream of Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage, at Longitude 81deg-39' 46" E and Latitude 17deg-16' 53" N. The Polavaram Project is essentially a diversion scheme and estimated for Rs. 2,665/-Crores (with 1985-86 rates). The revised estimated cost is Rs. 16010.45 Crores (with 2010-11 price level). An Index Plan and the Salient Features of the Project are appended. HISTORY OF THE PROJECT: A pronounced interest for Multipurpose Project on the River Godavari was felt during the early forties and the Ramapadasagar Project Report prepared in 1951 was an outcome of that. For some reason or the other no investigations for a reservoir across the Godavari was made previously, till 1941. In the year 1870 Lt-Col. Haig, Superintending Engineer, sent a report for the formation of reservoir across the River Sokileru (a tributary of the Sabari) to irrigate an area of about 7,300 Hectares (18,000 acres). Mr. Walch, in the year 1896 in his book "The Engineering Works of the Godavari Delta" wrote that there are sites on some of the large affluents of the Godavari where storage can be affected at a cost not prohibitory, but did not contemplate a dam across the main Godavari River. Early in 1941, Shri L. Venkatakrishna Iyer, the then Cheif Engineer for Irrigation, put up definite proposal for a storage Reservoir on the main Godavari River itself near Polavaram. After detailed investigation, the Ramapadasagar Project Report was finalised. The Ramapada Sagar Project as contemplated consists of i) a dam 130.0 m (428 ft.) high at the deepest portion, ii) a canal 209 K.M. (130 Miles) long on the left side emptying into the Vizag Port. iii) a canal of 200 K,M< (124 Miles) long on the right side upto the Krishna River and (after crossing it by an aqueduct) another 143 K. M. (89 miles) long upto the Gundlakamma river, and iv a hydro-electric power station to develop 150 Mega-watts of Firm power. The total cost of the Project was then estimated for Rs. 129/- Crores. Because of great depths of alluvium on one flank, sands on the other and with acceptable rock available at great depths, the, scheme worked out to be very costly and therefore did not fructify due to financial constraints and construction difficulties. The extra-ordinary floods in the Godavari River during August 1953 and the urgent needs of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant stressed the need for a barrage on the main river. Various agreements have also been reached between the neighbouring states for sharing Godavari Waters and for construction of the Polavaram Project with a FRL 45.72 M (150.00 ft,). Accordingly detailed investigation of the Polavaram Irrigation Project was taken-up in 1976 and Project Report was first presented in 1978. With further investigations and also based on the Comments of Central Water Commission on 1978 and 1982 Project; Reports, the Project report was finalized, in 1986 for estimated cost of Rs. 2665 Crores (with 1985-86 rates). Investigation clearance was accorded by the Planning Commission, for revised cost of Rs. 16010.45 Crores (with 2010-11 price level).

I visited the POLAVARAM DAM SITE on 22-01-2019. I went all through the area by walk. I saw the spillway on either side. I saw the concrete area said to have measured 32,100 square meters and fetched the Guinness's Book of World Records, but forgotten to take some photos on anxiety. However I took the photos on the other side. I spoke with the site engeneers and the workmen. They patiently answered my queries and cleared my doubts, such as the spillway walk made by the Chief Minister along with his family, the whereabouts of it, the diversion of the Godavari River water towards the spillway. Later, I walked to the River area where the Diaphram Walls and the Copper Dam are being built. There, the policemen and the security guards explained the works sofar done and about the diversion of Godaavri River water towards the spillway and later towards the South and North canals for irrigating the Godavari and the Krishna deltas ,and discharging the extra un-wanted water into The River at a far-off place. Later, we returned to the Spillway Restaurant by a visitor's bus from Ongole Depot. There we received the tokens for lunch from the counters arranged for, and took our meal free of cost The food served is very very good. It contained all the main items, such as the white rice, sambar, rasam, very good curd, curry, pickle, etc., It is an unforgettable honour to us. Within minutes, a large crowd gathered. There was a hectic rush at the tokens issuing counters. Soon the restaurant was filled fully with the visitors. It took nearly one hour twenty minutes to take lunch by the visitors. Several busses from Bhimavaram, Narasapuram, Kakinada, Ongole, Chilakaluri Peta, Rajahmundry, and from some distant depots arrived. From the spillway restaurant, it became impossible to catch any bus from there to reach Polavaram village We begged several drivers of the visitor's busses for a convenient lift, but invain. At last we reached Polavaram village by a route bus from a nearby corner village. I contribute the following photos taken during my visit to Polavaram Dam Site.

Polavaram is situated on the bank of Kaveri river and Adam project project is progress on that river. This dam contains 47 gates. The location of this dam is too awesome and land escape around the dam is between the hills

This project is great ....(for visitors) the arrangements are good but as the number of visitors are more it will be little inconvenience for food.

It's a great project, A wonderfull place to visit for a civil Engineering for work experience

The spillway is located on the right bank of the river for which nearly 5.5 km long and 1.0 km wide approach and spill channels up to river bed level is ... Spillway capacity: 3,600,000 cusecs at 140 ft msl Total capacity: 194 tmcft at FRL 150 ft msl Installed capacity: 960 MW (under construction) Active capacity: 175 tmcft (at 25.4 m msl crest level of spillway)

Polavaram visited on 05 Feb 2019. Almost 60 percentage of dam complete. We are from prakasam dist ,parchur mandal ,Devarapalli village -523169.A.P. India