Polavaram canal complete: Godavari waters to flow into Anakapalli from Sept 2
The AP State Water Resources Department has completed the Polavaram Irrigation Project Left Main Canal (PIPLMC), setting the stage for interlinking of the Godavari river with the Thandava, Varaha and Sarada rivers in north coastal Andhra Pradesh. With water set to flow through the canal, the region is expected to see a significant boost in irrigation and drinking water availability.
The canal originates at Nelakota in Polavaram district and runs for 213.409 km through multiple districts before reaching the Meghadri Gedda Reservoir in Visakhapatnam. It has been designed to strengthen both irrigation and drinking water supplies across the region.
The Polavaram Irrigation Project, a major multipurpose scheme on the Godavari river, is intended to serve upland areas of Visakhapatnam, East Godavari and West Godavari districts. The Left Main Canal is a crucial component for transferring water to the northern coastal areas that have long faced water scarcity.
The project gained renewed momentum after Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, during a visit to Darlapudi village in Anakapalli district on July 11, 2024, directed officials to supply 23.44 TMC of water to Visakhapatnam city and Anakapalli, addressing rural and irrigation needs en route.
The main canal and its distribution network will cater to an ayacut of about 1.5 lakh acres, directly benefiting 204 villages in the Nakkapalli, S. Rayavaram, Payakaraopeta, Yelamanchili, Rambilli, Kasimkota and Anakapalli mandals.
In the first phase, the project will supply water by gravity to 56 minor irrigation tanks—24 through the Thandava river, 27 through the Varaha river, and 5 through the Sarada river—stabilising 13,927.57 acres. Additionally, 26 open head channels covering 43,412.79 acres will also receive water.
The project will also supply drinking water to 290 villages beyond Tuni, benefiting a population of 4 lakh people.
Engineering interventions include diverting 325 cusecs near Tuni to stabilise 14,795.15 acres via the Thandava system, releasing 586 cusecs into the Varaha river basin to secure 26,652.63 acres, and channelling 350 cusecs through the Mamidiwaka Gedda to support the Sarada river network.
The successful completion of the canal segment is expected to improve the agricultural landscape of the region, which has traditionally depended on rain-fed farming. By providing a reliable water source, the project aims to enhance crop yields and reduce the risk of crop failure during dry spells.
Officials emphasised that the interlinking framework will optimise upper riparian water usage, mitigate the adverse agricultural impacts of deficient rainfall and El Niño years, and provide long-term water security.
Water Resources Superintending Engineer for the Visakhapatnam Circle of four districts, P. Appala Naidu, said, “The interlinking of the PIPLMC with minor irrigation sources and open head channels ensures maximum resource utilisation, providing a reliable safety net for farmers against erratic weather patterns.”
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu will formally release Godavari river water through the PIPLMC to the Anakapalli and Visakhapatnam districts on September 2, 2026, as part of the ‘Jala Harathi’ programme at Payakaraopeta constituency in Anakapalli district, marking a major milestone in regional water resource management, he added.
