Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu announced that the Polavaram project will be finished and dedicated to the nation before the 2027 Godavari Pushkaram. He assured that Godavari water from Polavaram will reach Nallamala Sagar before that, with the Veligonda projects set for completion by July this year.
Naidu made these statements during a public gathering where he laid the foundation stone for Veligonda Project feeder canal lining works valued at Rs 456 crore in Dornala mandal of Markapuram district. This visit marked his first to Markapuram since the district’s establishment.
The Chief Minister emphasized the acceleration of Veligonda project works, aiming to complete the first phase by June next year to bring Krishna waters to the drought-prone region. He inspected the project’s progress and urged officials to expedite the efforts to meet the set targets.
Highlighting the project’s goal of irrigating 4.35 lakh acres, Naidu mentioned the constituencies that would benefit from the Veligonda Project, including Giddalur, Markapuram, Yerragondapalem, and Kanigiri, as well as Udayagiri and Badvel in Kadapa district. The project requires Rs 9,081 crore, of which Rs 5,451 crore has been spent, with an additional Rs 2,540 crore needed to complete the remaining works.
Naidu also outlined the government’s plans to boost horticulture in the region, aiming to transform Rayalaseema into a horticulture hub while developing Markapuram and Prakasam districts through horticulture crops. He further pledged to provide safe drinking water to every household from Nallamala Sagar at a cost of Rs 1,300 crore and allocated Rs 50 crore for a new District Collectorate building in Markapuram.
Following the foundation ceremony, the Chief Minister engaged with local farmers, inspected the feeder canal works, and conducted aerial surveys of the Nallamala Sagar feeder canal. He emphasized the importance of meeting project deadlines and directed officials to ensure timely completion of the works.
