Pawan Kalyan Lays Foundation For Rs 1,290 Cr Water Project In Prakasam
Pawan Kalyan alleged that the erstwhile YSRCP government failed to implement the JJM, despite the Centre sanctioning Rs. 26,000 crore between 2019 and 2024
Update: 2025-07-04 12:27 GMT
Tirupati: Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan on Friday laid the foundation for a major drinking water supply project under the Jal Jeevan Mission in Markapuram.
The project, with an estimated cost of Rs 1,290 crore, aims to provide piped drinking water to 578 habitations in the western Prakasam district.
Pawan Kalyan, who handles the rural development and drinking water supply department, said he would personally monitor the completion of Jal Jeevan Mission works across Prakasam. “My vision is for a water-secure district. This will help check migration from the region for jobs elsewhere,” he said.
The government, he said, is committed to ensuring safe and adequate drinking water to all habitations in the district.
Endowments minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy said Prakasam district, formed by merging the backward areas of three districts decades ago, still struggled due to lack of development and scarcity of drinking water. The Veligonda project, once completed, would effect a major turnaround for agriculture and drinking water needs in Prakasam and adjoining regions like Udayagiri and Atmakur in Nellore district.
Social welfare minister Veeranjaneya Swamy said the government had initially sanctioned `650 crore for the project before 2018. However, the project was delayed due to “inaction” of the YSRC government, and the cost had now increased to `1,290 crore.
The project would draw water from the Veligonda reservoir and purify it using 140 MLD rapid sand filters before supplying it to households through a newly laid pipeline. As per officials, the scheme will benefit around 6.73 lakh people by providing an average of 55 litres of safe drinking water per person daily.
The plan includes laying of 4,866km of pipelines, 31 main overhead tanks, 334 village-level tanks and 59,603 new tap connections, in addition to the existing ones. This is expected to be completed in 24 months. The executing agency would maintain the system for 12 years.
The deputy CM paid floral tributes to freedom fighter Alluri Sitarama Raju on his birth anniversary. Ongole MP Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy, Markapuram MLA Kandula Narayana Reddy, In-charge district collector Gopalakrishna and others were present.
Pawan Kalyan, who handles the rural development and drinking water supply department, said he would personally monitor the completion of Jal Jeevan Mission works across Prakasam. “My vision is for a water-secure district. This will help check migration from the region for jobs elsewhere,” he said.
The government, he said, is committed to ensuring safe and adequate drinking water to all habitations in the district.
Endowments minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy said Prakasam district, formed by merging the backward areas of three districts decades ago, still struggled due to lack of development and scarcity of drinking water. The Veligonda project, once completed, would effect a major turnaround for agriculture and drinking water needs in Prakasam and adjoining regions like Udayagiri and Atmakur in Nellore district.
Social welfare minister Veeranjaneya Swamy said the government had initially sanctioned `650 crore for the project before 2018. However, the project was delayed due to “inaction” of the YSRC government, and the cost had now increased to `1,290 crore.
The project would draw water from the Veligonda reservoir and purify it using 140 MLD rapid sand filters before supplying it to households through a newly laid pipeline. As per officials, the scheme will benefit around 6.73 lakh people by providing an average of 55 litres of safe drinking water per person daily.
The plan includes laying of 4,866km of pipelines, 31 main overhead tanks, 334 village-level tanks and 59,603 new tap connections, in addition to the existing ones. This is expected to be completed in 24 months. The executing agency would maintain the system for 12 years.
The deputy CM paid floral tributes to freedom fighter Alluri Sitarama Raju on his birth anniversary. Ongole MP Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy, Markapuram MLA Kandula Narayana Reddy, In-charge district collector Gopalakrishna and others were present.