Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu declared his unwavering commitment on Friday to transform the state into a drought-resilient region. His plan hinges on a sophisticated, technology-driven, and data-backed water management system.
Emphasizing that sustainable development is inextricably linked to assured water availability, Naidu advocated for a comprehensive ‘One State–One Water’ policy. He also urged for full collaboration in connecting the state’s rivers.
During a vital Assembly discussion on irrigation, the Chief Minister highlighted that thousands of TMCs (thousand million cubic feet) of precious floodwaters from the Godavari and Krishna rivers are currently wasted, flowing into the sea each year. He asserted, “By effectively interlinking our rivers, we can harness these surplus waters to ensure robust water security for every corner of the state.” He further pledged to complete the crucial Polavaram project by December 2027, the Veligonda project by July 2026, and all other outstanding irrigation initiatives across Rayalaseema and North Andhra within a two-year timeframe.
Recalling past achievements, Mr. Naidu expressed profound satisfaction with his previous efforts that successfully brought Krishna river waters to Kuppam via the Handri-Neeva project, which involved laying an impressive 738 kilometers of canals.
Despite experiencing a 2.1% rainfall deficit this year, the Chief Minister noted positive developments: groundwater levels have improved, and 94% of major and minor reservoirs are now full, collectively holding an estimated 1,040 TMC of water. Current groundwater reserves are at a healthy 697 TMC, with soil moisture holding capacity increasing to 84%.
Mr. Naidu commended Andhra Pradesh for its pioneering role in intra-river linking and the widespread adoption of drip irrigation. He revealed that the NDA government has already invested ₹12,000 crore in irrigation within one year and plans to allocate an additional ₹60,000 crore over the next five years for these vital projects.
Addressing concerns about the Polavaram project, he recounted that the TDP government had completed 72% of the work by 2019. However, he attributed the subsequent collapse of the diaphragm wall to negligence under the previous administration. “We are now allocating ₹1,000 crore to reconstruct this critical wall, with completion expected by December 2025,” he concluded.