VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has reiterated his government’s commitment to ensuring irrigation facility to every acre of farmland in the State, describing it as a “water tribute to Telugu Thalli.”
During a discussion and voting on demands of grants for the Water Resources Department for 2026-27 in the Legislative Assembly on Thursday, he announced that a comprehensive blueprint will be released soon to complete all the pending irrigation projects in the State.
Naidu emphasised that water security is a key aspect in the NDA government’s Swarnandhra Vision 2047. He noted that industries and investments depend on reliable water resources, and highlighted upcoming responsibilities such as hosting Godavari and Krishna Pushkarams. “We treat rivers and water as sacred resources, and our government is committed to their responsible management,” Naidu said.
He underlined the importance of linking the rivers from Vamsadhara to Penna to ensure water availability across all regions. He recalled national-level discussions on interlinking the Ganga and Cauvery rivers, expressing hope that such projects will eventually materialise. At the State level, he said river-linking will prevent wastage of floodwater, pointing out that nearly 3,000 TMC of Godavari floodwater flows into the sea annually.
He highlighted that Rs 68,000 crore was spent on irrigation during 2014-19, and an additional Rs 20,000 crore has been invested in the past 20 months.
He cited the expansion of the Handri-Neeva canal, which now supplies water to Paramasamudram tank in Kuppam, and the provision of drinking water to Madakasira.
Naidu sets timelines for Veligonda, Polavaram
Naidu credited his party’s leadership with initiating major irrigation projects, noting that former chief minister NT Rama Rao launched the Telugu Ganga, Galeru-Nagari and Handri-Neeva to benefit Rayalaseema. Through Pattiseema lift irrigation scheme, 100 TMC of water was supplied to Rayalaseema, which Naidu described as transforming the region into “Ratanala Seema.”
He assured that the long-delayed Veligonda project will see its first phase completed by July this year, benefiting Markapuram and Prakasam districts. He criticised the previous regime for inaugurating irrigation projects without ensuring water supply, accusing it of “credit theft.”
On Polavaram, which he termed the “lifeline of Andhra Pradesh,” Naidu vowed to complete it before the upcoming Godavari Pushkarams. He also announced plans to complete the Chintalapudi lift irrigation scheme to supply water to the upland areas of Krishna and Eluru districts.
The Chief Minister informed that Andhra Pradesh’s reservoirs have a combined storage capacity of 1,312 TMC, and put the current levels at 793 TMC. The availability, he said, will allow the government to plan water release for paddy transplantation in the ensuing season by May 15. Andhra Pradesh leads the nation in micro-irrigation, covering 1.6 million hectares. Water Users Associations are being empowered to manage conservation and distribution. Groundwater levels have risen by an average of 6 metres due to conservation efforts, reducing electricity consumption for pumping and saving `91 crore in power costs.
Naidu addressed concerns about the Polavaram-Nallamala Sagar linkage, clarifying that the project will only divert surplus Godavari floodwater otherwise flows into the sea. He said both Telugu States will benefit from the project, and pointed out that Andhra Pradesh did not object to Telangana’s Kaleshwaram project.