Press Release

The present flood situation along river Godavari in Andhra Pradesh is alarming. The situation is all the more grave especially in areas that surround the proposed Polavaram multipurpose irrigation project. If the flood water levels pose a threat of submergence to people of temple town, Bhadarachalam, and other areas now, the situation can be well imagined once the Polavaram at the height of 150 ft is constructed.

 The Dam Break Analysis (DBA) report prepared by National Institute of Hydrology, Roorkee, specifically mentions the threat to hundreds of villages and towns including Rajahmundry city, on account of the Polavaram (Indira Sagar) project. Even independent studies too confirm the threat perception.

The DBA of Roorkee institute indicated that the maximum flood due to the Polavaram dam failure will be 1.5 times that the peak flood of 36 lakh cusecs recorded in 1986 in Godavari. If this dam breaks, the flood at Rajahmundry will be around 54 lakh cusecs. About 25 lakh people in the downstream area will be under constant threat, if the project is constructed.

Dr Biksham Gujja                Prof Shivaji Rao              Dr Sivaramakrishna

WWF                                    Environmentalist              Sakti