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AP Rolls Out Jaladhara Plan, Puts Polavaram at Core of Water Security Strategy
AP Rolls Out Jaladhara Plan, Puts Polavaram at Core of Water Security Strategy

AP Rolls Out Jaladhara Plan, Puts Polavaram at Core of Water Security Strategy

Shaik Mohammad Shaffee
April 16, 2026

The Andhra Pradesh government has unveiled an ambitious Jaladhara action plan aimed at strengthening long-term water security across the state, with the Polavaram project positioned as its central pillar. During a high-level review, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu directed officials to prepare a clear roadmap for efficient use of Godavari waters , ensuring their distribution through the right and left canals while linking them to reservoirs and tanks to maximise irrigation and drinking water benefits.

The government is simultaneously accelerating multiple major irrigation works, including Veligonda , Handri-Neeva Sujala Sravanthi , the Polavaram–Nallamala Sagar Link , and the Chintalapudi Lift Irrigation Scheme . Special focus has been placed on North Andhra projects such as Thotapalli Barrage , Maddulavalasa , Janjavathi , and Hiramandalam , with strict timelines set for completion. Authorities aim to finish key river interlinking works like Vamsadhara–Nagavali linkage by December and Nagavali–Champavathi linkage by July, while tenders for the long-pending Neradi Barrage are expected soon.

In addition to irrigation, the state plans to transform Polavaram into a major tourism hub , integrating infrastructure such as hotels, shopping zones, and boating routes connecting Polavaram, Papikondalu, and Bhadrachalam. The government is targeting completion of the project before the Godavari Pushkaralu , with construction and rehabilitation efforts progressing in parallel. Significant funds have already been spent, with additional investments planned to complete civil works and resettlement of displaced families by 2027.

Meanwhile, the Veligonda Stage-1 project is nearing completion, with the government aiming to finish it by June end. Progress has also been notable in the Handri-Neeva system, where canal expansion and water distribution have benefited hundreds of minor irrigation tanks, improving agricultural prospects in drought-prone regions.

Looking ahead, the proposed Polavaram–Nallamala Sagar link project, estimated at ₹58,700 crore, is expected to play a crucial role in diverting floodwaters and enhancing water availability. The Chintalapudi project, with an estimated cost of ₹8,075 crore, has already secured environmental clearance, and land acquisition is underway to support its execution.

Encouragingly, groundwater levels across Andhra Pradesh have shown improvement, with availability rising to 625 TMC an increase of 12 TMC compared to last year. Under the Jaladhara–Jalaharathi initiative, thousands of works have been identified to further strengthen rural water systems, benefiting thousands of villages.

The government is also addressing gaps in irrigation infrastructure, identifying that 244 lift irrigation schemes had become defunct due to poor maintenance. Plans are now in place to restore and manage the remaining 758 systems through third-party agencies, ensuring their long-term functionality and efficiency.