Polavaram Displaced Families Struggle to Overcome Livelihood Crisis

Families displaced by the Polavaram irrigation project are struggling to overcome a severe livelihood crisis as access to their traditional means of income has been cut off. Residing in Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R&R) colonies in ASR district, many displaced households allege that returning to their submerged or abandoned villages for farming or fishing, even temporarily, has become nearly impossible due to poor connectivity and restrictions.

Several families said agriculture and fishing, once their primary sources of sustenance, are no longer viable, pushing them into financial hardship. They claimed that the lack of alternative employment opportunities and delays in receiving promised benefits have worsened their situation.

Despite the hardships, the displaced families expressed hope that the government would fulfil its assurances regarding compensation, livelihood support, and infrastructure facilities in the R&R colonies. They urged authorities to implement rehabilitation packages in both letter and spirit, stressing that timely support was essential to restore dignity and economic stability to affected communities.