Dhavaleswaram Barrage Set for Major Modernisation with 117 New Gates

The Andhra Pradesh Government will modernise the historic Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage at Dhavaleswaram by installing 117 new gates at a cost of ₹152 crore , Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu announced on Monday. Addressing a public meeting at Pichukalanka in Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema district said the project would enhance the safety and operational efficiency of one of the State's most vital irrigation structures and that the new gates would be installed within the next nine months . The barrage, which irrigates nearly 10.1 lakh acres across the East, Central and West Godavari deltas , has a storage capacity of 2.9 TMC and is capable of handling flood discharges of up to 32.2 lakh cusecs , making it indispensable to agriculture and flood management in the region.

Recalling the history of the irrigation structure, the Chief Minister said the original anicut built by British irrigation engineer Sir Arthur Cotton revolutionised farming in the Godavari basin, while the construction of the present barrage was initiated during the tenure of former Chief Minister N.T. Rama Rao to meet the growing irrigation demands of the delta. He said the modernisation would strengthen the barrage's long-term reliability and improve water management across the region.

Naidu reiterated that the Polavaram Project would be completed before the 2027 Godavari Pushkaralu , stating that the multipurpose project would ensure reliable water availability across the Godavari districts while improving irrigation, drinking water supply and flood control. He also highlighted the role of the Pattiseema Lift Irrigation Scheme in diverting Godavari waters to the Krishna basin, saying it had transformed agriculture in Rayalaseema by promoting micro-irrigation , horticulture and other high-value farming practices.

The Chief Minister said the coalition government was committed to rebuilding Andhra Pradesh while fulfilling the promises made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi , Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan , and the alliance government. He announced that financial assistance under the 'Talliki Vandanam' scheme, which provides ₹15,000 annually for every school-going child, would be released during July . Alleging that the previous YSR Congress Party government had damaged the Polavaram diaphragm wall , Naidu claimed that the project had reached 72% completion between 2014 and 2019 and would have been finished by 2021 had the TDP remained in power. He said that after the TDP-led coalition assumed office in 2024 , the project's progress had now reached 89% .

Highlighting the government's emphasis on irrigation infrastructure, Naidu said ₹24,000 crore had been invested in the sector over the past two years and that 36 new gates had also been installed at the Tungabhadra Dam . Looking ahead to the 2027 Godavari Pushkaralu , he announced that the festival would be organised on a grand scale, with ₹1,200 crore earmarked for preparations in Rajamahendravaram alone and extensive renovation of Pushkar ghats . He also unveiled plans to establish a 'Cocoa City' in the Godavari region, promote tourism at Pichukalanka and Bojjaralanka , improve Konaseema railway connectivity , and continue the modernisation of the Godavari Delta irrigation network.

Referring to the prevailing weather conditions, Naidu said the impact of El Niño had resulted in 25% below-normal rainfall this year, leading to reduced inflows into rivers. He urged farmers to take weather forecasts into account while planning crop cultivation to minimise the risks associated with uncertain rainfall patterns.