Rayalaseema irrigation projects prioritised to ensure water security, says Minister

In a move aimed at securing long-term water availability for farmers in the Rayalaseema region, the Andhra Pradesh government is expediting several irrigation projects. Minister for Roads and Buildings B.C. Janardhan Reddy said on Tuesday that the administration is committed to completing these works to provide permanent water security to the farming community.

Speaking to reporters in Nandyal after inspecting the Gorukallu and Owk reservoirs alongside Law Minister N. Md. Farooq and District Collector Rajakumari Ganiya, Mr. Reddy outlined the ongoing investments. He announced that work to increase the storage capacity of the Gorukallu Reservoir is being undertaken at a cost of ₹53 crore. In addition, repairs to address leakage problems at the same reservoir are progressing rapidly, with ₹54 crore allocated for this purpose.

The Minister also noted that the Alaganuru Reservoir is receiving repairs on a larger scale than originally planned. “Works worth ₹610 crore are under way for the repair and development of various irrigation projects including Srisailam, Gorukallu, and Alaganuru,” he said. He added that the government is giving top priority to projects such as the Owk Balancing Reservoir, Handri-Neeva, Gandikota, and Srisailam Right Bank Canal (SRBC) to efficiently deliver Krishna river waters to Rayalaseema.

Providing data on recent water supply, Mr. Reddy said that during 2024-25, Gandikota received 60 tmc (thousand million cubic feet) of water, while SRBC got 7 tmc. For 2025-26, he said 6 tmc is being released to SRBC to ensure uninterrupted supply for both agriculture and industry. He further stated that the government intends to complete 36 priority irrigation projects at a total cost of ₹35,313 crore over the next three years, with 14 of these located in Rayalaseema alone.

The Minister also mentioned that several industrial developments are coming up in the district, including a drone hub and an industrial hub near Gorukallu, which are expected to boost local economic activity.

District Collector Rajakumari Ganiya provided an update on the Srisailam reservoir, noting that while its full capacity is 885 feet (215 tmc), the current water level stands at 860 feet (105 tmc) following rains in upstream areas. She said that approximately 9 tmc of water is needed to ensure round-the-year drinking water supply for both rural and urban populations. Following State government guidelines, proactive steps such as filling balancing reservoirs are being taken to avert any drinking water shortage.

Regarding the ongoing Kharif season, the Collector acknowledged the lack of sufficient irrigation water for paddy cultivation and the prevailing deficit rainfall. She advised farmers to shift to alternative crops such as black gram, red gram, green gram, sorghum, foxtail millet, and castor. She also urged all farmers to mandatorily register for crop insurance to safeguard against potential losses.

The officials' inspections and statements underline the government's focus on addressing water-related challenges in the Rayalaseema region, which has historically faced scarcity. The progress of these projects will be closely watched by farmers and residents who depend on a reliable water supply for their livelihoods and daily needs.