CM calls for completion of irrigation projects on priority

Metro India News | AMARAVATI

Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu has directed officials to take up construction and foundation-laying works of irrigation projects strictly as per the Irrigation Calendar and complete them on priority. The Chief Minister conducted a comprehensive review of irrigation projects, including Polavaram, at the State Secretariat on Monday. During the review, he discussed the Irrigation Calendar in detail. Chandrababu Naidu announced an Irrigation Calendar with 25 projects during the recent Collectors’ Conference.

He officials to include 11 more priority projects in the calendar. He directed the Finance Department to ensure there is no shortage of funds for land acquisition, civil works, and other components of these projects. Polavaram Project Progress Officials briefed the Chief Minister on the progress of various irrigation projects. In Polavaram 88% of civil works 93% of land acquisition, 45% of relief & rehabilitation and 85% of twin tunnels have been completed. 

Officials also informed the Chief Minister that diaphragm wall was completed on April 2 and earth cum rock fill dam gap-1 & 2 works were targeted for completion by March 31, 2027. The CM instructed officials to complete R&R works by April 2027 without any disputes and directed them to construct an iconic bridge downstream of the Polavaram Spillway to develop the area as a major tourism spot. He emphasized that water from the Left Canal should be released through Purushottapatnam lifts from July this year. 

The Chief Minister pointed out that 362 lift irrigation schemes became defunct due to the previous government’s negligence between 2019 and 2024, as no budget was allocated for their maintenance. Chandrababu Naidu stated that the government is spending around Rs 17,000 crore annually on free electricity for agriculture and that improving groundwater levels would reduce this burden. He instructed officials to prepare both short-term and long-term plans for water security and to work towards inter-state projects like Godavari-Cauvery linking in coordination with the Centre.