The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, who is in upbeat after receiving NABARD loan of Rs 1981 crore first time in the country for an irrigation project, today will be commencing the spillway concrete works for Polavaram project, the most crucial phase of the project, this afternoon at 1.59 pm.

As this would be momentous period for the state moving ahead to realise over seven-decades-old dreams of the people, Chief Minister has been conducting the event as a major festival of the state. All the ministers, senior officials of the government and prominent leaders were asked to take part in this event. Arrangements are being made to accommodate over one lakh people in the public meeting, to be held on this occasion. Farmers from two Godavari district, besides neighbouring districts are expected to participate.

Naidu has fixed three key milestones for the months of December and January for the early completion of this project, projected as `life line’ for the state. After commencing concrete works today, diaphragm wall works would be launched in the first week of January and the third milestone was to start erecting fabrication gates at dam site during the second week January.

Canal digging works are going on in the project site. Freshly new machines have been brought in to speed up the works. Meanwhile, the designs for spillway concrete works have been finalised. It was earlier decided to invite Union Minister Uma Bharati to lay the foundation stone. But as her schedule is busy, Naidu himself will lay the foundation.

It may be recalled that the Central government has declared Polavaram as a national project and all future expenditure on it will be borne by the Centre. Pointing out that his government has taken up the Polavaram project on a priority basis and has been ensuring fund flow despite financial constraints Chandrababu Naidu emphasized that the project would give impetus to the economic development of the state. He was confident that it will be completed by 2018.