Sir Arthur Cotton’s Ideals Guide Our Irrigation Mission: Minister

The birth anniversary of Sir Arthur Cotton , widely revered as the “Father of Modern Irrigation in India,” was celebrated with grandeur at the Water Resources Minister’s camp office in Vijayawada. On the occasion, Water Resources Minister Nimmala Ramanaidu paid floral tributes to Cotton’s portrait and recalled his transformative role in shaping irrigation infrastructure in the Godavari delta and surrounding regions.

Speaking at the event, the Minister said Sir Arthur Cotton’s visionary engineering work laid the foundation for large-scale irrigation development in Andhra Pradesh. He highlighted the significance of the Dowleswaram Barrage and Krishna barrages, which continue to support agriculture across lakhs of acres and have played a crucial role in making the region a major food-producing hub. He reaffirmed that the present coalition government is committed to completing all pending irrigation projects in alignment with Cotton’s legacy.

The Minister announced that the government has sanctioned ₹150.09 crore for the replacement of 117 gates at the Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage (Dowleswaram), a key irrigation structure in the Godavari delta that supports irrigation and water supply needs across a vast ayacut area. He noted that strengthening the barrage is essential for ensuring long-term safety, efficiency, and uninterrupted water flow to agricultural lands.

Highlighting modernization efforts under a broader modernization drive , Nimmala Ramanaidu said that a LiDAR survey worth ₹13.4 crore has been completed to support scientific planning of irrigation systems in the Godavari delta . Based on the data collected, a comprehensive project report is being prepared to guide the modernization of canals and drainage networks, ensuring efficient water distribution up to tail-end regions and reducing wastage through better planning.

The Minister further stated that the government has undertaken large-scale desilting works across irrigation canals and drains, with an expenditure of about ₹790 crore. These works included the removal of silt, weeds, and water hyacinth that had obstructed water flow, thereby restoring several critical irrigation channels and improving water availability for farmers.

Looking ahead to the upcoming Kharif season , the government has allocated ₹397 crore for irrigation maintenance to prevent the accumulation of silt and weed growth in canals. The Minister said that field-level works are already in progress to ensure that irrigation systems are fully prepared ahead of water release. He reiterated that the government’s priority remains farmer welfare and the creation of a modern, efficient irrigation network built on the visionary foundation laid by Sir Arthur Cotton.