KUPPAM: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has vowed to provide water to every acre and everybody in the State, terming it is his responsibility.
Naidu performed ‘Jala Harathi’ to mark the arrival of Krishna river water to his home constituency Kuppam via the Handri-Neeva canal. The engineering feat transported water 738 km from the Krishna river, lifting it to 700 metres in elevation, fulfilling Naidu’s long-cherished dream.
Addressing a large gathering at Paramasamudram on Saturday, he described it as a ‘Sacred Day’, likening the event to an early Krishna Pushkarams, and noting that Paramasamudram now resembles a ‘full sea’. Paying tributes to Sir Arthur Cotton and NT Rama Rao for their irrigation legacies, he recalled past droughts.
Initiated in 1999, the Handri-Neeva Sujala Sravanthi now delivers water from Srisailam through 27 lift irrigation schemes, with plans to transform Rayalaseema from a ‘land of stones’ into a ‘region of precious stones’.
CM envisions Kuppam as Rs 3,908 crore investment hub with 10,600 direct jobs
Naidu contrasted the NDA government’s Rs 12,500 crore investment on Rayalaseema projects (2014-19) with the YSRCP regime’s under Rs 2,000 crore (2019-24), accusing it of obstructing economic progress. “YSRCP leaders can’t stomach the fact that water is now flowing,” he observed, affirming the NDA’s resolve to achieve the impossible with faith in Lord Venkateswara.
He promised water for 110 reservoirs in Palamaner and Kuppam, with Kuppam’s 520 tanks, including chained systems, set to benefit from check dams. “The TDP knows the value of water; with sincerity, anything is possible,” he asserted.
The Handri-Neeva project’s two phases will irrigate 6 lakh acres, and provide drinking water to 3.3 million people, with Chittoor next in line, and Galeru-Nagari’s completion to fill all reservoirs.
Naidu advocated river interlinking to conserve water, and improve groundwater levels to 3 metres post-monsoon, and 8 metres pre-monsoon. “My life will be meaningful if I provide water to every acre,” he said, outlining a blueprint emphasising horticulture, and industries like defence, aerospace, and green hydrogen. For Kuppam, Naidu envisioned a competitive hub with Rs 3,908 crore investments, creating 10,600 direct, and 26,581 indirect jobs.
Key projects include Hindalco’s iPhone component plant, enhanced Bengaluru road connectivity, and a Kuppam airport to be operational by December for cargo and passengers. He advised farmers to focus on cash crops over paddy to maximise benefits. Following the rally, Naidu oversaw six MoUs with the industries department. SHELeads will train 10,000 women entrepreneurs for rural markets. Kingswood Decor Private Limited’s Rs 1,100 crore medium-density fiberboard factory will generate 2,012 jobs. Pioneer Clean Amps Limited’s Rs 150 crore unit will produce 70-100 two-seater training aircraft annually, creating 250 jobs.
Ethreal Exploration Guild’s Rs 500 crore, three-phase Razor Crest MK-1 rocket factory will employ 500. Red Berry Food Logistics’ Rs 300 crore agri-tech and food processing hub will create 15,000 jobs. The event, attended by thousands, signalled a new era for Rayalaseema.