Independent international audit of Polavaram demanded

Civil society urges independent audit of Polavaram Project, citing safety concerns and potential risks to downstream populations.

A civil society organisation — Centre for Liberty — has urged the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti, the Central Water Commission (CWC), and the Andhra Pradesh government to immediately constitute an independent international review panel to audit the safety of the Polavaram Project, particularly the integrity of the diaphragm wall (D-Wall).

Addressing a press conference here on Monday (March 02), chairman of the Centre for Liberty, former IPS officer, A B Venkateswara Rao and Nalamotu Chakravarthy insisted that all daily concrete pour logs, quality control reports and the “daily bleeding” reports related to diaphragm wall construction be placed in the public domain, along with the results of Cross-Wall Sonic Logging (CSL) tests conducted to assess structural integrity.

They further sought a white paper explaining design alterations made in Gap-I without the approval of the Central Water Commission and demanded that responsibility be fixed for the structural failure of the guide bund reported in 2023.

Another issue flagged by them relates to changes in foundation trench levels in Gap-I from the approved elevation of 23 metres to 24 metres without adequate justification or approval from the Central Water Commission. Such unilateral alterations could compromise the stability of the dam foundation, they argued.

Warning that continued engineering violations could endanger downstream populations, they said they would approach the Supreme Court seeking a court-monitored safety audit if the concerns raised in the representation are not addressed promptly.

Describing the Polavaram Project as both a lifeline for Andhra Pradesh and a potential hazard if safety norms are compromised, the Centre for Liberty leaders urged authorities to halt any attempt to cover the diaphragm wall under embankment works until it is certified safe after comprehensive testing and corrective measures, even if that requires construction of a new wall. Construction works on the earth-cum-rock fill (ECRF) dam should be slowed down until concerns over concrete quality and structural safety are fully investigated, they added.