Ministers, MLAs Laud Naidu As ‘Apara Bhagirathudu’ At Polavaram Jala Harathi

Ministers, MPs and MLAs praised Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu as “Apara Bhagirathudu” during the Polavaram jala harathi ceremony at the Payakaraopeta cross regulator in Anakapalle district on Wednesday.

Naidu performed special pujas to the Godavari waters flowing through the Polavaram left canal. He offered silk robes, fruits and flowers to the waters and performed jala harathi before sprinkling the water on those present.

Locals lined both sides of the canal and welcomed the Godavari flow with flowers, while women performed harathis. Farmers expressed gratitude, saying their long-awaited demand for Godavari waters in North Andhra had been fulfilled.

Before the ceremony, Naidu unveiled a stone plaque at Payakaraopeta symbolising the arrangements made to reach water to Anakapalle district through the canal. Under the project, the government aims to provide irrigation to 2.87 lakh acres across four districts and drinking water to nine lakh people, with `4,192 crore spent on the canal’s construction.

The water resources department has planned to fill the Yeleru canal and 110 ponds in Anakapalle district, stabilising ayacuts under Pushkara, Eleru, Pampa, Tandava, Varaha and Mango Gedda.

The Chief Minister, along with alliance representatives and officials, posed for photographs at the plaque and was welcomed with traditional Kolatam and Tappeta Gulla dances.

“The people of North Andhra have achieved their dream of getting the Godavari waters by voting for Chandrababu,” said home minister Vangalapudi Anitha.

Assembly Speaker Chintakayala Ayyanna Patrudu said, “The CM has kept his promise of bringing Godavari waters to north Andhra and has done what the YSRC could not do.”

Minister Nimmala Ramanaidu said, “The CM has worked hard for the Polavaram river like ‘Apara Bhagirathudu’.”

MLA Konatala Ramakrishna said, “I salute the CM for bringing Godavari waters to North Andhra.”

Villagers welcomed the flow of water and expressed relief over the fulfillment of their long-standing demand.