A Drought-Free Andhra Pradesh : Special Chief Secretary G. Sai Prasad

Goal: A Drought-Free Andhra Pradesh

•    Adequate water supply for all sectors
•    Reservoirs at 88.99% capacity
•    Polavaram Project to be completed by December 2027
•    Focus on raising groundwater levels
•    Directions from Water Resources Department Special Chief Secretary G. Sai Prasad to Collectors

Amaravati, 15 September:  The State Government’s primary goal is to make Andhra Pradesh a drought-free state by ensuring adequate water supply for all sectors, said Water Resources Department Special Chief Secretary G. Sai Prasad. He made a presentation on water resources at the District Collectors’ Conference.

He noted that climate changes are now highly unpredictable, with uncertainty on when and where rainfall will occur or where cloudbursts might happen. In this context, water conservation has become a major challenge, and collectors must focus on effective utilisation of available water resources, he said.

Currently, reservoirs across the state are 88.99% full, which he described as a positive development. He explained that:
•    Major reservoirs with a capacity of 1,014.27 TMC currently hold 914.17 TMC (90.13%).
•    Medium reservoirs with a capacity of 91.58 TMC currently hold 53.52 TMC (58.44%).
•    Together, the reservoirs with a capacity of 1,105.85 TMC now store 967.69 TMC (87.51%).
Shri Sai Prasad said that with Central Government funding, 38,457 medium irrigation tanks are planned for development, of which 5,815 tanks have already been completed. Collectors were asked to closely monitor this work.
On groundwater levels, he stressed that special focus must be placed on improving recharge. In 7,762 villages, groundwater levels have fallen below 8 metres, and recharge programmes must be implemented in these areas, he directed.

Polavaram to be Completed by 2027
He reiterated that the Polavaram Project will be completed by December 2027, with the department aiming to finish it even earlier by June 2027. He said the Polavaram Left Main Canal is targeted for completion by October this year, which will allow water supply to extend up to Anakapalli. Collectors were asked to pay special attention to this project.

Stabilisation of 3.21 Lakh Acres of Ayacut
Sai Prasad said that the government is expediting pending works on irrigation projects. Currently, works relating to seven projects are being completed at a cost of ₹9,221.4 crore, which will help stabilise 3,21,826 acres of ayacut (irrigated land).