River linking must for progress: Nimmala

Andhra Pradesh Water Resources Minister Nimmala Ramanaidu emphasised that river linking and the efficient use of water resources are crucial for the State’s development. Speaking on the first day of the second All-India Irrigation Ministers’ Conference, he referred to the concept of river linking proposed by renowned engineer KL Rao, highlighting the strong leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu in advancing this process in Andhra Pradesh.
He pointed out that the bifurcated state of Andhra Pradesh covers four crore acres, with two crore acres suitable for agriculture. However, he noted that one crore acres still require irrigation. The minister expressed his commitment to providing water to every acre of land, intending to transform the state into a drought-free region.
During the conference, Ramanaidu presented a video showcasing the State’s water resources, ongoing irrigation projects, and water conservation plans under the Vision 2047 initiative. He also highlighted the introduction of AP Water Resource Management Technology (APWRM) in 2017, which uses real-time governance for effective water management, resulting in a 53% increase in water storage in reservoirs this year.
The minister described the Polavaram project on the Godavari River as particularly significant, capable of discharging up to five million cubic feet of water and stabilising the Krishna and Godavari deltas to ensure sustainable agriculture. He further mentioned that the state is working on 85 projects at various stages to meet the irrigation, drinking, and industrial water needs.
Minister Ramanaidu acknowledged Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu’s role in promoting modern technology for groundwater measurement, with 1,810 geo-meters and geo-tagged borewells installed across the state. He also outlined the state’s initiatives for water conservation, including efforts to reduce waste and encourage water savings.
He reiterated Chief Minister Naidu’s vision to make Andhra Pradesh drought-free by 2047 and mentioned plans to maximise the use of water from five major rivers and 35 minor rivers to support drought-prone areas like Rayalaseema.
The minister expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Modi, Union Water Resources Minister C.R. Patil, and Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu for their support in fast-tracking water conservation and efficiency projects. He urged Minister Patil and other senior officials to provide full financial assistance and necessary approvals for proposed irrigation projects, including the Polavaram-Banakacharla link project.