Naidu to inaugurate Veligonda Project on Aug 31, says 30-year wait ends

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu announced on Tuesday that he will inaugurate Phase-I of the Veligonda Project on August 31, fulfilling what he described as a three-decade-old commitment to transform the drought-prone regions of the erstwhile Prakasam district.

In a post on X, Mr. Naidu said he would release 10.7 TMC of water into Nallamala Sagar on the inauguration day. He recalled laying the foundation stone for the project on March 5, 1996, during his earlier tenure as Chief Minister of the undivided Andhra Pradesh. “Three decades later, I am going to inaugurate the same project with my own hands,” he said, sharing a photograph from the foundation-laying ceremony.

The Chief Minister said the project had faced numerous obstacles and setbacks but was completed through a determined and “Bhagiratha-like effort” to bring Krishna waters to the parched lands. According to his statement, Phase-I will provide irrigation to 1.19 lakh acres, while Phase-II is expected to extend irrigation to another 3.283 lakh acres. The project will also supply drinking water to lakhs of people who have suffered from drought and water scarcity for generations.

Mr. Naidu said the inauguration at Markapuram would mark a new chapter in the region’s development. “The waters of Veligonda will bring life and prosperity to the drought-hit region. Agriculture will flourish and development will gain wings,” he said.

The Chief Minister linked the project to his broader vision for western Prakasam and Rayalaseema. He noted that the government had created Markapuram district to meet long-standing aspirations and was preparing to launch major horticulture development works in Rayalaseema and the erstwhile Prakasam district with investments of ₹1 lakh crore. He also mentioned planned infrastructure projects, including national highways, the Bengaluru-Amaravati highway, and the Ramayapatnam port, saying these would open new avenues for trade, industry, and logistics.

Mr. Naidu further promised a permanent solution to the fluoride problem affecting parts of western Prakasam by ensuring clean drinking water through tap connections to every household. He said the government was bringing Krishna waters from Srisailam Mallanna to Markapuram Chennakesava with the determination to remove backwardness and change lives. “Water for every farmer’s field, employment for every young person and security for every family — this is the resolve of CBN,” he stated.

Calling upon citizens to contribute to nation-building through individual achievement and collective responsibility, the Chief Minister said the Veligonda water project would stand as a symbol of determination and a turning point in the development of the drought-hit region.