Water is wealth, surplus from Srikakulam projects can be taken to Anantapur, says Naidu

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Stating that his government will give top priority to utilisation of every drop of water, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Monday outlined an ambitious plan aimed at taking the surplus water in the projects in Srikakulam to as far as Anantapur. He asserted that having water is equal to having wealth and launched a 100-day action plan for conserving water and enriching the State’s water resources.

Participating in `Jaladhara – Water Security & Responsibility of Water Users Associations’ in Yadiki of Anantapur district, Mr. Naidu also reaffirmed that the Polavaram project would be completed and dedicated to the nation before the 2027 Godavari Pushkaralu. This, he said, would enable gravity-based water transfer to the Krishna river, fully stabilising the Krishna delta. Further, the completion of Polavaram will also ensure water supply to Visakhapatnam.

The Chief Minister also proposed diversion of around 200 TMC Godavari waters to the Nagarjunasagar ayacut, linking it further through the Nallamala Sagar and Veligonda projects. This would allow Srisailam waters to be utilised for Rayalaseema, ensuring irrigation to every acre in the region, he said.

Long-term vision

Highlighting his long-term vision, he said that surplus floodwaters from Srikakulam should ultimately reach drought-prone Anantapur through an interconnected river system. The Vamsadhara, Nagavali and Champavathi projects would be completed and the surplus water from these can flow down to the Godavari and from there to the Krishna river and reach Rayalaseema, he outlined.

Mr. Naidu also assured completion of pending projects, including Varikapudisela in Palnadu, Chintalapudi Lift Irrigation in Eluru, and the Veligonda project, aiming to provide irrigation water to drought-hit areas such as Prakasam and Markapur regions.

The Chief Minister stated that water security is a top priority for the State. He said efforts are on to capture, store and efficiently utilise water. He noted that Andhra Pradesh is No. 1 in micro-irrigation, with an investment of ₹1,031 crore. ‘’Due to drip irrigation initiatives, Rayalaseema has emerged as a horticulture hub. There has been a significant Improvement in groundwater levels, which increased by 1.92 metres,’’ he said.

The Chief Minister stated that Rayalaseema will witness development through the “Purvodaya” scheme. The projects like Handri-Neeva and Pattiseema have played a key role in water distribution, ensuring irrigation even to tail-end lands.

He reiterated that his goal is to provide efficient, accountable governance while ensuring water security, development and welfare for all.

Earlier, Mr. Naidu accompanied by Tadipatri MLA J.C. Asmith Reddy visited the stalls set up at the venue and also launched a dedicated mobile application aimed at strengthening water security and empowering water users’ associations. The Chief Minister also presented the progress report of Tadipatri constituency during the meeting.