CM Chandrababu Naidu will inaugurate Velugonda Phase-I on Monday and release 10.70 TMC of Krishna water, benefiting drought-prone areas across Andhra Pradesh.
AMARAVATI: A three-decade-old dream of people in the drought-prone regions of Prakasam, Markapuram, Nellore and Kadapa districts is set to become a reality, with Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu scheduled to inaugurate Phase-I of the Velugonda irrigation project and release Krishna waters on Monday.
The State government is organising the inauguration on a grand scale under the theme ‘Velugonda Jala Sirulu – Abhivruddhiki Rekkalu’ (Velugonda Waters – Wings for Development).
The inauguration assumes particular significance as Chandrababu Naidu himself laid the foundation stone for the Velugonda project on March 5, 1996, when he was Chief Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh. Nearly three decades later, he will return to inaugurate the first phase of the project.
For regions that have struggled for decades with inadequate rainfall, declining groundwater levels, fluoride contamination and a shortage of irrigation water, the project is being positioned as a major intervention capable of reshaping the area's agricultural and economic prospects.
The Velugonda project has been designed to divert Krishna waters from the Srisailam reservoir through gravity, store them in Nallamala Sagar and distribute the water through the main canal network for irrigation and drinking water needs.
Once fully operational, the project is expected to provide irrigation to approximately 4.47 lakh acres and benefit people across 30 mandals in Prakasam, Markapuram, Nellore and Kadapa districts.
The drinking water component is expected to benefit around 23 lakh people, including communities living in fluoride-affected areas.
With the commissioning of Phase-I, 10.70 TMC of Krishna water will be released into Nallamala Sagar. The first phase is targeted to provide irrigation to around 1.19 lakh acres and drinking water to approximately 4 lakh people.
The availability of a more reliable source of irrigation is expected to bring greater stability to agriculture in the drought-prone areas.
Improved water availability could reduce farmers' dependence on uncertain rainfall and groundwater, while creating opportunities for crop diversification, horticulture and allied agricultural activities.
The government expects the project to support the development of agro-processing and food-processing industries, potentially generating additional employment opportunities in rural areas.
With better agricultural prospects and local employment opportunities, the project could also help reduce economic distress and migration from villages in the region.
Since its foundation in 1996, the Velugonda project has encountered several technical, financial and construction-related challenges.
The works involved complex engineering and administrative issues, including tunnel construction, feeder canals, head regulators, land acquisition, rehabilitation and resettlement.
The coalition government, after assuming office in 2024, accorded high priority to the project and accelerated construction works, with particular attention to tunnels, feeder canals, head regulators and other associated structures.
The government also stepped up rehabilitation and compensation measures for families affected by the project.
According to the government, Rs.768 crore was disbursed as compensation to displaced families within 48 days. Another Rs.169 crore was announced for eligible people whose names were not included in the gazette or beneficiary lists.
The government also announced Rs.2 lakh each as compensation for those who attained the age of 18 after 2019.
According to the scheduled programme, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu will reach the Gantavanipalli helipad in Dornala mandal of Markapuram district at 10.15 am on Monday and proceed to the Velugonda project inauguration venue.
Between 10.35 am and 11.20 am, the Chief Minister will participate in special puja ceremonies and inaugurate Phase-I of the project.
He will unveil the inauguration pylon, open the project gates and formally release Krishna waters into the Velugonda project.
At 11.30 am, Naidu is scheduled to reach the public meeting venue at Gantavanipalli village, where he will address the gathering.
The release of water marks a significant milestone for the region, where generations of people have waited for a dependable irrigation and drinking water source. With Phase-I becoming operational, the Velugonda project is expected to open a new chapter in agricultural development and water security across the drought-prone belt.
