Western Chittoor Water Woes to End as Phase-II of Gandikota Project Gathers Pace
The project assumes significance in view of the recurring drought conditions and declining groundwater levels witnessed across western parts of the erstwhile Chittoor district
TIRUPATI: The long-awaited drinking water project intended to provide a permanent solution to water scarcity in western Chittoor is gathering momentum, with the state government moving ahead with the second phase of the Gandikota Reservoir-based scheme.
Phase-II is a major initiative aimed at ensuring a reliable source of potable water to drought-prone areas of western Chittoor that have for decades depended largely on groundwater. The tender process for the second phase is underway. Once completed, work will start to extend drinking water supply to Madanapalle, Punganur, Palamaner, and Kuppam constituencies.
The project is being implemented in two phases at a total estimated cost of more than ₹5,250 crore. While Phase-II is valued at ₹2,886 crore, works under Phase-I are already underway with an outlay of ₹2,370 crore. Together, the two phases are expected to provide drinking water security to seven Assembly constituencies across Annamayya and Chittoor districts.
The project assumes significance in view of the recurring drought conditions and declining groundwater levels witnessed across western parts of the erstwhile Chittoor district. By bringing water from the Gandikota reservoir in Kadapa district through a dedicated drinking water network, the government hopes to provide a long-term solution to one of the region's most persistent challenges.
Under the scheme, water will be drawn from the reservoir and transported through a dedicated transmission network. A balancing reservoir is proposed at Gandikota, from where water will be conveyed to treatment facilities being established in Gurramkonda mandal of Annamayya district before being supplied to beneficiary regions.
Separate treatment plants are being developed for the two phases of the project. The Phase-I treatment plant, estimated to cost around ₹300 crore, is currently under construction. Another treatment facility will be established after the Phase-II contract is finalised. Each plant will have a treatment capacity of 75 million litres per day (MLD), taking the combined purification capacity to 150 MLD.
Officials said the infrastructure planned will meet both present and future drinking water requirements of the region. The project is expected to benefit several lakh people living in areas that frequently experience drinking water shortages, particularly during summer months.
Phase-I works commenced in April last year and are scheduled for completion by October 2027. Once operational, the first phase will provide drinking water to Rayachoti, Piler, and Thamballapalle.
