CM Naidu Inaugurates 1st Phase Of Veligonda Irrigation Project
Phase-I of the project will store 10.70 TMC, irrigate 1.19 lakh acres and provide safe drinking water to nearly four lakh people across three districts
Markapuram: Fulfilling the three-decade dream of the people of the drought-prone areas of Markapuram, Prakasam, Nellore and Kadapa districts. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu inaugurated the first phase of Poola Subbaiah Veligonda irrigation project and dedicated it to the nation on Monday.
The state government organized the inauguration under the name 'Veligonda Jalasirulu-Abhivruddhiki Rekkalu'. As part of the event, the Chief Minister offered Jalaharathi to River Krishna and performed special pujas. In a rare moment, the Chief Minister offered Sashtanga Namaskaram to the River Krishna as homage. He later unveiled the project pylon and released water by lifting the project gates.
The project, constructed by Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Ltd (MEIL), will bring new life to drought-hit areas in the Markapuram region along with the combined Prakasam, Nellore and Kadapa districts. Through the launch of the first phase, 10.70 TMC of Krishna water was released to Nallamala Sagar. In the first phase, irrigation water will be provided to about 1.19 lakh acres of farmland and safe drinking water to 4 lakh people.
The project has been designed to carry Krishna water from the Srisailam reservoir by gravity, store it in Nallamala Sagar and use it for irrigation and drinking water needs through main canals. Once fully completed, the Veligonda project will provide irrigation water to 4.47 lakh acres and benefit people in 30 mandals of Prakasam, Nellore and Kadapa districts.CM Naidu, who had laid the foundation stone for the project on March 5, 1996, as Chief Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh.
Elation gripped farmers and people of Markapuram as Krishna waters reached the region with the inauguration of the first phase of the Veligonda project. Farmers and women gathered at the venue watched with keen interest as Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu who was dressed in a traditional Veshti, performed the Jalaharathi near Gantavanipalli at the Veligonda feeder canal. The Chief Minister stepped into the water to offer Harathi to River Krishna and presented turmeric, kumkum and a saree to the River Krishna.
Students and tribal women accorded a traditional welcome to the Chief Minister at the Jalaharathi venue. After the Jalaharathi, priests presented a portrait of Srisailam Mallikarjuna Swamy to the Chief Minister. Ministers Nimmala Ramanaidu, Gottipati Ravi Kumar, D B V Swamy, Anam Ramanarayana Reddy, Kandula Durgesh and Anagani Satya Prasad, MP Srinivasa Reddy, BJP State President Madhav and district public representatives attended the inaugural ceremony.
The coalition government has spent more than Rs 2,400 crore on Veligonda in two years and expedited works after assuming office in 2024. It also disbursed Rs 768 crore to displaced families within 48 days, announced Rs 169 crore for excluded beneficiaries and Rs 2 lakh compensation for those turning 18.
The project is expected to strengthen irrigation, encourage crop diversification, horticulture and agro-processing, generate rural employment, reduce groundwater dependence and help curb migration.
