Union Minister of State for Steel and Heavy Industries, Bhupathi Raju Srinivasa Varma, recently announced a monumental ₹1,400 crore Water Grid project destined for Vijjeswaram in the West Godavari district. This crucial initiative will be executed under the national Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), which focuses on providing safe and adequate drinking water through individual household tap connections by 2024.
The announcement came during a meeting of the West Godavari District Development and Coordination Committee, where Minister Srinivasa Varma presided over a comprehensive review of various Central government-sponsored programs and State government initiatives. He highlighted the substantial financial commitment from the Centre, stating, “The Centre has sanctioned ₹1,735 crores in the financial year 2025-26 under the Jal Jeevan Mission for the West Godavari district, with ₹1,400 crore specifically allocated to the Water Grid project.”
Key local figures, including Zilla Parishad Chairperson Ganta Padmasri, District Collector Ch. Nagarani, Bhimavaram MLA P. Ramanjaneyulu, and Tanuku MLA Arumilli Radhakrishna, participated in the discussions. They collectively underscored the vital need to enhance and fortify the existing irrigation infrastructure, including the extensive canal networks, to ensure the project’s success and broader regional benefits.
In a related public engagement, Minister Srinivasa Varma, accompanied by Deputy Speaker K. Raghu Rama Krishnam Raju, led a celebratory tractor rally in Bhimavaram. This event marked the successful implementation of new Goods and Services Tax (GST) slabs. During the ‘Super GST-Super Savings’ campaign, Minister Varma emphasized the positive impact of these revisions, asserting that “the revised GST on agricultural implements and machinery will provide a significant boost to the agriculture sector,” reaffirming the government’s commitment to supporting farmers and fostering agricultural growth.