Protecting Farmers' Interests Key to Tungabhadra Dam Restoration: Chandrababu Naidu
"The Tungabhadra Dam plays a crucial role in supplying irrigation water to farmers and drinking water to people across Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana," Naidu said.
Koppal: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday highlighted the importance of inter-state river linking and cooperative water management while addressing a public meeting following the inauguration of 33 newly restored spillway gates at the Tungabhadra Dam at Hosapete in Vijayanagara district. "We have successfully revived the Tungabhadra Dam and safeguarded the interests of lakhs of farmers who depend on its waters," he said.
Naidu praised Union Jal Shakti Minister C. R. Patil for bringing together the governments of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana to discuss water-sharing and irrigation issues, describing the meeting as a historic step for the region.
"The Tungabhadra Dam plays a crucial role in supplying irrigation water to farmers and drinking water to people across Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana," Naidu said. Referring to the cultural significance of the river, he noted that there is a popular saying comparing the sanctity of the Tungabhadra's waters to that of the Ganga.
Recalling the damage caused when the dam's 19th gate was washed away in 2024, the Chief Minister said a stop-lock gate was installed with the assistance of expert Kannayya Naidu to prevent water wastage. He added that the restoration of all 33 crest gates has now been completed through the joint efforts of the Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka governments.
Emphasizing the need for greater water connectivity, Naidu said India could become "unstoppable" if major river systems such as the Ganga and Cauvery were linked. He cited the Ken-Betwa river-linking project in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh as an example of successful inter-basin water transfer.
The Chief Minister advocated linking the Godavari and Cauvery rivers, saying such a project would benefit Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana and Tamil Nadu by ensuring better utilization of available water resources.He said the meeting convened by Union Minister C.R. Patil and attended by the Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana focused on protecting the interests of farmers across the region.
