Amaravati, February 25 – Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said on Wednesday that the Polavaram project would be completed and dedicated to the nation before the 2027 Godavari Pushkaram.
He also reiterated that water from the Godavari River from Polavaram will be supplied to Nallamala Sagar before that, and that the Nallamala Sagar and Veligonda projects will be completed by July of this year.
The Chief Minister was addressing a public meeting after laying the foundation stone for the Rs 456 crore feeder canal lining works for the Veligonda project at Ghantavanipalle in the Dornala mandal of the Markapuram district.
This was the Chief Minister's first visit to Markapuram after the government created the district.
The Chief Minister said that he had kept his promise to create the Markapuram district. He added that with Markapuram becoming a district, people no longer need to travel 150 km to Ongole for administrative work, and that this would bring justice to the long-neglected backward region.
He stated that the works for the Veligonda project have been accelerated, and that by June next year, the first phase of the project will be completed, and Krishna waters will be brought to this drought-prone region.
The Chief Minister inspected the Veligonda works and instructed the officials to expedite the work so that the target can be achieved.
He said that the Veligonda project aims to provide irrigation to 4.35 lakh acres, benefiting constituencies including Giddalur, Markapuram, Yerragondapalem, and Kanigiri, as well as Udayagiri and Badvel in Kadapa district.
He explained that the Veligonda Project requires Rs 9,081 crore. So far, Rs 5,451 crore has been spent on construction. Another Rs 2,540 crore is needed to complete the works. The Rs 456 crore feeder canal lining works have now been initiated, he added.
The Chief Minister said that the government is promoting horticulture and aims to transform Rayalaseema into a horticulture hub, along with developing Markapuram and Prakasam districts through horticultural crops.
He also promised safe drinking water to every household from Nallamala Sagar at a cost of Rs 1,300 crore. He announced Rs 50 crore for constructing a new District Collectorate building in Markapuram.
After the foundation ceremony, the Chief Minister interacted with local farmers and inspected the feeder canal works.
The Chief Minister viewed the Nallamala Sagar feeder canal through an aerial survey and held video conferences with officials at project sites. He directed officials to complete the works as per the targets.