AP Scraps Controversial Mega-Irrigation Plan
The Andhra Pradesh government, led by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, has made a significant shift in its water policy by scrapping the contentious Polavaram-Banakacherla irrigation project. This high-cost, ambitious scheme had become a major point of political conflict with neighboring Telangana, which had vehemently opposed the plan. The decision signals a strategic pivot by the AP administration to seek an alternative and less confrontational solution for addressing the drought situation in the Rayalaseema region.
The Polavaram-Banakacherla project was originally conceived as a crucial component for diverting Godavari river water toward the Krishna basin, with the ultimate goal of providing water security to the parched lands of Rayalaseema. However, the proposal was met with strong resistance from the Telangana government. Their primary concerns centered on the potential impact on their rightful share of inter-state river waters and the threat of backwater inundation to villages and infrastructure near their border. The dispute had led to protracted delays and complications in securing necessary clearances from the Central government and various water management bodies.
In place of the shelved project, the Andhra Pradesh government is now drafting a new, more cost-effective blueprint focused entirely on utilizing the Godavari river’s surplus floodwaters. This revised scheme is aimed squarely at making the Rayalaseema region drought-free through an integrated approach. The estimated cost for this new plan is projected to be around ₹58,000 crore, which is significantly lower than the nearly ₹90,000 crore estimated for the scrapped Banakacherla project. The move to a new, smaller-scale project may also have been prompted by the Centre’s reluctance to fund the original, highly ambitious scheme due to the inter-state friction.
The new blueprint outlines an infrastructure plan to link the Polavaram project’s output with the existing canal network on the Krishna river. According to sources, the draft proposal suggests pumping water from the Polavaram project directly to the Prakasam Barrage. From there, a new dedicated canal will be constructed to link with the Nagarjuna Sagar Right Canal. This route will facilitate the channelling of water to the Bollapalli reservoir near Vinukonda and, crucially, into the Nallamala Sagar reservoir, which is a vital part of the ongoing Veligonda Project in Prakasam district. Any additional surplus water is planned for diversion to the Somasila reservoir as needed.
This strategic recalibration allows the state to accelerate its goal of water security for the Rayalaseema area by leveraging existing infrastructure and avoiding the lengthy legal and political battles associated with the previous plan. The official revocation of all previous tenders for the Polavaram-Banakacherla Detailed Project Report (DPR) confirms the state’s commitment to this new direction. While the ultimate dream of a comprehensive, large-scale interlinking of the rivers remains, the current focus is on a phased approach that promises to deliver results more quickly and efficiently while maintaining cooperative relations with its neighboring state. The success of this new project will be closely watched as Andhra Pradesh seeks to transform its drought-prone areas into irrigated, productive farmlands. The focus remains on leveraging Godavari’s massive seasonal flow to bring genuine relief to millions of farmers and residents in the southern districts.
