A.P. govt. plans to take Polavaram project water to Rayalaseema at estimated cost of ₹80,112 crore

The Andhra Pradesh government has chalked out plans for the ‘intra-linking of rivers’ in the State. The government has planned to undertake the Godavari-Banakacherla project at an estimated cost of ₹80,112 crore, and complete the same in three years. The project aims at providing drinking water to 8 million people and ensuring additional 7.5 lakh acres of irrigated land.

The Andhra Pradesh government has chalked out plans for the ‘intra-linking of rivers’ in the State. The government has planned to undertake the Godavari-Banakacherla project at an estimated cost of ₹80,112 crore, and complete the same in three years.

The project aims at providing drinking water to 8 million people and ensuring additional 7.5 lakh acres of irrigated land.

Addressing the media at the Secretariat at Velagapudi on December 30, Monday, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said that the government was contemplating taking up the Godavari-Banakacherla project in three segments.

The first segment involves diverting water from Polavaram project to the Krishna River. In the second segment,  the government proposes to construct the Bollapalli reservoir and transfer water. In the third segment, water will be diverted from Bollapalli to Banakacharla.

“Banakacharla will be the gateway to Rayalaseema. This project will benefit not only the Rayalaseema districts but Nellore and Prakasam. While the segment-1 is estimated to cost ₹13,511 crore, the segment-II would cost ₹28,560 crore. In the third segment, the government will spend ₹38,041 crore. The total cost of the project would be around ₹80,112 crore,” the Chief Minister said.

Mr. Naidu said that the project would generate significant revenue for the State. “If funds are available, we can complete the Godavari-Banakacharla project in three years. This would be the largest irrigation infrastructure project in the country. We are sending the project report to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The government has already discussed the project with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The Detailed Project Report (DPR) will be completed, and tenders will be invited in three months. We are considering raising funds through a hybrid model,” Mr. Naidu said.

Based on water availability, Mr. Naidu said, steps would be taken to ensure that the Banakacharla regulator in Kurnool district will carry at least 2 tmc feet of water daily.