The Polavaram Project has reached another important milestone with completion of the new Diaphragm Wall, a critical underground structure beneath the ECRF dam. An Panel of Experts (PoE), including Dr. Richard Donnelly and Dr. Gian Franco Di Cicco, recently reviewed the D-Wall construction and quality tests.
The panel gave positive observations on the quality of work and the quality-control measures followed during construction.
The new Diaphragm Wall is 1,372.6 metres long, has 365 panels, and reaches a maximum depth of 97.6 metres. This underground wall is an important part of the seepage-control system beneath the ECRF dam. It helps control the movement of water through the foundation.
Building a structure of this scale required specialised underground construction because of the deep foundation conditions in the riverbed. Bauer, in collaboration with MEIL Group, carried out the D-Wall construction works. During construction, several quality-control tests were conducted to check concrete quality, strength and seepage-control performance.
After reviewing these test results, the International Panel of Experts gave positive observations on construction quality.
The experts also stressed the need to maintain strict quality standards during the next stages, particularly for the Gap-1 and Gap-2 earth-cum-rock-fill dam sections. They recommended continued attention to construction materials, foundation conditions, grouting, moisture control and monitoring systems.
The panel also highlighted the importance of careful monitoring when the reservoir is filled for the first time. Water levels should be increased in stages, while the performance of the dam is closely monitored. For Polavaram, completion of the new D-Wall marks an important engineering milestone.
The focus now moves to the remaining critical dam works, with continued technical supervision and quality control.
Polavaram's new D-Wall is more than an underground wall. It is a critical part of the foundation and seepage-control system — and another important step towards completing the project.