Godavari water for north Andhra by July: Nimmala

Minister for Water Resources, Dr Nimmala Ramanaidu, announced that the government is committed to diverting Godavari River water to Uttarandhra through the Polavaram Left Main Canal by July this year, in line with the target set by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu. To achieve this, tenders worth Rs 1,050 crore have been finalised for completing the pending works of the canal, which will address the drinking and irrigation water needs of North Andhra districts, he said.
Dr Ramanaidu reviewed the progress of the Polavaram Left Main Canal works with senior officials of the Water Resources Department at the department’s camp office in Vijayawada on Monday. Special Chief Secretary G Sai Prasad, Engineer-in-Chief, and Water Resources Department Advisor M Venkateswara Rao were also present.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Dr Ramanaidu assured that the Polavaram Left Main Canal would be completed as per Chief Minister Naidu’s vision, providing relief to Uttarandhra’s long-standing water issues. He criticised the previous YSRCP government for neglecting the project during its tenure, claiming no progress was made on the canal, no compensation was provided to displaced persons, and vital works were abruptly halted.
The Minister pointed out that the canal’s capacity had been reduced from 17,500 cusecs to 8,122 cusecs, which he argued would be detrimental to Uttarandhra’s water requirements. Recalling the NDA coalition government’s efforts, he highlighted that Chief Minister Naidu had prioritised the Polavaram Project and the canal’s works immediately upon taking office.
Dr Ramanaidu also emphasised the government’s commitment to completing the Uttarandhra Sujala Sravanti Project, allocating Rs 1,600 crore despite economic challenges. He criticised the previous government for the destruction of the Diaphragm Wall, which has led to a costly reconstruction project worth Rs 900 crore, expected to be completed by December 2025.
The Minister further announced plans to begin constructing the Earth Cum Rock Fill (ECRF) Dam alongside the diaphragm wall reconstruction. A dedicated website will also be launched to provide real-time updates on the Polavaram Project’s progress. He reiterated Chief Minister Naidu’s goal of transforming Uttarandhra and Rayalaseema into green and prosperous regions.