Project Jaladhara turns drought-prone Annamayya district as water secure zone leading to rural economy

Annamayya district  jumps to second rank from 25th rank in  ground water levels in state

Annamayya district remains as a model for water conservation with district administration’s initiative - Project Jaladhara

Madanapalle:In a remarkable turnaround that is redefining water management in Rayalaseema, Annamayya district has emerged as a model for sustainable water security under district administration’s  initiative called - Project Jaladhara.

Taking a cue from the guidance of  Chief Minister N Chandra Babu Naidu regarding water security  for future development and economic growth, the district Collector Nishant Kumar designed a project to harvest every drop of water in a severe wa

ter-deficit district and to leverage water availability for ensuring economic development through animal husbandry and horticulture expansion and also by ensuring energy conservation.

The concept behind the project Jaladhara is interlinking of surplus basins to deficit basins. When the Union and State governments are planning to interlink  rivers to divert the water from surplus region to water deficit regions, the district administration take initiative in that direction and started implementing the same process within the district by diverting water from surplus parts of the district to water deficit parts through inter-linking of smaller streams. As part of it, the district administration has brought Water Resources Dept, District Water Management Agency together for planning as well as execution using technology as well as traditional community knowledge about long lost water courses and feeder channels taking steps in this regard and the result is project Jaladhaara.

The success story of Annamayya district was recently explained to Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, highlighting how scientific planning, effective execution and optimal utilization of natural resources transformed a drought-prone region into a water-secure zone.

At the heart of this transformation lies the Sub Basin based water planning rejuvenating cascades and old water courses which became defunct over the years. District authorities mapped surplus and deficit water sources and designed sub basin-wise interlinking plans to balance availability. Several major tanks were interconnected, enabling diversion of 3.9 TMC of surplus water to deficit tanks in Rayachoty, Madanapalle,Lakkireddipalle, Thambalapalle,Rajampet and Nandalur mandals including Tallapaka, Nandalur, Lebaka and Korlakunta tanks.

As a result almost 90 per cent region of the district has benefitted through the Jaladhara project except few rain shadow regions.

Tanks such as Pullampet tank and Konamma Cheruvu received water after 40-50 years. Such a remarkable event made the people of the nearby villages jubilant.

An additional 3.9 TMC of water availability was created in the basin, significantly reducing dependency on groundwater. Tanks in deficit areas are now brimming and local farmers have reduced bore well usage considerably.

In addition through effective utilisation of employment guarantee schemes (NREGA Or VB-G RAM G), the district administration executed large-scale water conservation works. As a result  out of 6000 defunct feeder channels 4000 channels are now functioning. Works of 1700 feeder channels are  going on,310 feeder channels excavated,214 farm ponds constructed,102 trenches developed,532 local water streams rejuvenated,

962 mini irrigation tanks filled to 100 per cent capacity,3,089 tanks restored under conservation measures.With intelligent utilisation of NREGA works and use of machinery at 163 critical locations to clear the feeder channels the water tanks were restored.

Rainfall received during the Montha and Dithva cyclones was scientifically captured and redirected to recharge groundwater systems ensuring no  wastage of rain water.The impact has been extraordinary. Surface water storage increased from 13.15 TMC in August 2025 to 48.86 TMC by December 2025 — a growth of 35.71 TMC within just six months.

The groundwater levels improved dramatically from depths of 12.97 meters (November 2024), 14.45 meters (August 2025) and 5.85 meters (Dec 2025). Groundwater is now available at just 3–8 meters depth in nearly 90 per cent of the district. Within five months alone groundwater levels improved by 8.59 meters, reviving over 20,000 previously defunct borewells.

When compared to May 2025, by Dec 2025, the average ground water level increase in Rayalaseema region is 3.6 meters. where as in Annamayya district alone the increase in ground water level is 8.7 meters.

Annamayya district which was once ranked 25th in terms of the ground water in the state is now ranked 2nd. This is achieved without any new irrigation project but only by filling the existing and defunct water tanks.

Satellite imagery from AP SAC (space application center) now clearly reflects increased greenery across Annamayya district, symbolizing the visible ecological transformation. As per the NDVI (Normalised Difference Vegetation Index), the moderate vegetation has increased by 5.12 lakh acres and water bodies’ area is expanded by 3927 acres. The dense vegetation  forest area is expanded by 400 acres. This is achieved without any new project but only by filling the existing water tanks.

Power Savings benefits farmers:With groundwater availability increasing significantly, agricultural bore well electricity consumption reduced by 30–40 per cent. It is estimated that 12.54 lakh units of electricity are being saved daily from 1.25 lakh pump sets, translating into approximately Rs 95.71 crore in savings for the State exchequer between august 2025 to November 2025.

Boost to Horticulture and Economy:Leveraging the water availability the administration has pushed to boost the economy through expanding horticulture in the district. Horticulture cultivation in the district has expanded to 85,760 hectares — an increase of 20,000 hectares compared to last year. It may be noted that generally every year the increase is horticulture area is only 7000-8000 Hectares. By December 2025, horticulture production generated additional Gross Value Added (GVA) of Rs1,634 crore.

Also to further utilise the water and improved greenery, under the livelihood component of Project Jaladhara, 10,000 new milch animals which were purchased from other districts and other states are handed over to the famers under different schemes and this move increased the milk production by one lakh liters per day which is likely to contribute approximately Rs. 100-120 Cr additionally to the district economy.

Overall, this project is estimated to boost the economy of the district by Rs. 1100-1170 crores in this year considering the GDP growth in animal husbandry, increased area of horticulture, fisheries activities and power savings.

Jaladhara - a model for sustainable water governance:Annamayya district’s project Jaladhara implementation now stands as a benchmark for integrated water resource management in Rayalaseema region. By scientifically linking water bodies, optimizing rainfall usage and ensuring equitable distribution, the district has not only secured water for today but laid a strong foundation for future generations. With the credit goes to Jaladhara project, once a drought-prone landscape has now turned into a thriving, water-secure region — a testament to visionary planning and effective governance of  both state government and  district administration.