CM Naidu pitches river interlinking as lifeline for Andhra Pradesh

Vijayawada: Emphasising river interlinking as the truest tribute to mother earth, chief minister Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday said that ensuring water to every acre was akin to offering a "jal harati" to the land. Addressing presidents of Water Users' Associations (WUAs), he underlined that Andhra Pradesh had the capacity to overcome drought permanently through scientific water management, conservation, and river connectivity.Naidu said the state's annual water requirement stood at about 1,300 TMCs — 900 TMCs for agriculture, 40 TMCs for industries, and 200 TMCs for drinking water. With 40 rivers and nearly 38,000 tanks, AP could store more than 1,300 TMCs, he noted, adding that reservoirs were currently brimming with 862 TMCs this year. He announced that all water resources data would be digitalised for real-time monitoring of storage and usage.Recalling his govt's earlier focus on watershed development, Naidu said large volumes of Godavari and Krishna waters—nearly 5,000 TMCs—flowed wastefully into the sea every year. The CM further said his govt's aim was to divert at least 200 TMCs of floodwater to projects such as Nallamala Sagar to drive away drought. He alleged that the previous regime damaged the project by submerging the diaphragm wall, causing a loss of ₹440 crore and pushing reconstruction costs up by nearly ₹1,000 crore. He asserted that Polavaram would be completed and dedicated to the nation by the 2027 Godavari Pushkarams. The project, he said, would enable river interlinking — connecting the Polavaram left canal with Vamsadhara to green north Andhra, while linking Nallamala Sagar to supply water to Rayalaseema.Naidu added that his government never objected to Telangana's Kaleshwaram project, even after bifurcation, since Telugu people lived on both sides and shared water usage benefited all. The goal, he said, was to fill all reservoirs and chain-linked tanks across the state to ensure farmers and citizens faced no scarcity.Highlighting the role of WUAs, he urged their representatives to act like engineers, adopt innovative practices, and take ownership of water management. He said ₹68 crore had been spent on project maintenance, and results were visible. Criticising YSRCP's charges on the Rayalaseema lift irrigation project, which the NGT earlier halted for lack of statutory clearances, he assured that water would be supplied to all regions through Machumarri, Pothireddypadu, and by completing the Chintalapudi lift project within this year.