Amaravati: As floodwaters recede in the Godavari River, authorities are draining water from the Polavaram dam site to facilitate construction. Water is being released downstream through a depleting sluice gate constructed at the lower cofferdam. The area between the upper and lower cofferdams, where the main dam and diaphragm wall are to be built, is currently flooded with seepage water, hindering construction activities.
To address this, engineers have dug an area near a hill at the lower cofferdam, creating a structure similar to the depleting sluice, which allows water to flow out by gravity. Although the Central Water Commission and Jal Shakti officials initially did not approve this construction, it is now operational, with two gates installed.
Currently, water levels are 29 meters upstream of the upper cofferdam and 19 meters downstream, with about 0.35 TMC of water estimated in the main dam area. A final report from an international expert team is expected soon, which will guide further actions.
