Vijayawada: CM Chandrababu Naidu has reiterated his commitment to expediting the completion of the Handri-Neeva Srujala Sravanthi (HNSS) project, which he described as the lifeline of the Rayalaseema region. As part of this resolve, the CM will visit the Uravakonda Assembly segment in Anantapur district on Friday to inspect the ongoing works.
He will also participate in several developmental programmes in the constituency.
The project was initiated by the earlier Telugu Desam Party (TDP) government in 2014, but saw little progress under the successive administration, which allegedly neglected it in the same manner as the Polavaram project. No efforts were made to widen or line the canals, despite the project’s critical importance to Rayalaseema.
Following the return of the TDP-led NDA government, work on the project has regained momentum. The Chief Minister promptly granted administrative sanction for the main canal works and for the widening and lining of the Punganur Branch Canal. He has instructed officials to ensure completion of Phase-1 works by June 2025, which has led to a renewed push over the past few months.
The State Government has earmarked Rs 3,873 crore for the completion of Phase-1 and 2 works covering a stretch of 554 km. Upon completion, the water storage capacity will rise to 3,850 million cusecs. A target has been set to complete the remaining works within five months, with the first phase scheduled for completion by next month.
During the previous TDP regime, works worth Rs 4,000 crore were completed. Mr Naidu is now set to personally inspect the ongoing works at Chayapuram.
