Key Features

* Drinking Water: Supplying water to 80 lakh people.

* Irrigation: Bringing 7.5 lakh acres of new ayacut under cultivation and supplementing 22.5 lakh acres.

* Industrial Usage: Allocating 20 TMC for industrial development in Rayalaseema.

* Banakacherla Gateway: Positioned as the gateway to Rayalaseema, the project will extend its reach to various districts, connecting them through canals and reservoirs.

* The project will connect Polavaram Dam, Nagarjuna Sagar’s right main canal, and Bollapalle Reservoir through tunnels and canals.

metro india news  I amaravati

AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu unveiled the ambitious Godavari-Banakacherla Link Project, naming it “Telugu Talliki Jalaharathi,”a symbolic tribute to the motherland (Telugu Talli). Addressing the media, the Chief Minister emphasized that the project is designed to address the pressing water scarcity issues across Rayalaseema, Prakasam, Nellore, and other drought-prone districts, transforming them into prosperous regions and called the project a “game changer”.

Explaining the necessity of the project, CM Naidu highlighted that while the Krishna River often suffers from insufficient inflows due to upstream utilization, the Godavari River consistently provides surplus water.

Annually, an average of 2,989 TMC of Godavari’s floodwaters flows into the sea, with 4,114 TMC reaching the ocean this year alone. By diverting at least 300 TMC of this surplus water, the project aims to irrigate vast swathes of farmland and ensure sustainable water availability.

This project will help deliver water to every acre of land in Andhra Pradesh. By interlinking rivers, we can eliminate water scarcity in the state’s agricultural sector,” Naidu said. The Godavari-Banakacherla Link Project, estimated to cost Rs.80,112 crore, will be implemented in three phases.

In phase 1, diverting floodwaters from the Godavari River (upstream of Polavaram Dam) to the Krishna River (Prakasam barrage) with an estimated cost of Rs. 13,511 crore.

In second phase, channeling water from Krishna to the proposed Bollapalle Reservoir which can store 150 TMC and can go upto 400 TMC, will be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs. 28,500 crore.

In the third phase, delivering water through a combination of tunnels, lifts, and gravity-based systems to Banakacherla, with a cost of Rs. 38,041 crore.

Highlighting the challenges faced by Andhra Pradesh, Naidu remarked that Rayalaseema and neighboring districts frequently experience droughts, exacerbated by inadequate irrigation infrastructure. The Godavari-Banakacherla project is expected to mitigate these issues by creating a robust water grid linking major rivers and reservoirs.

“Rayalaseema will become Ratanala Seema (Land of Jewels) if we can ensure water availability,” Naidu asserted, adding that interlinking rivers such as Vamsadhara, Nagavali, Godavari, and Krishna will pave the way for a drought-proof Andhra Pradesh.

Naidu described the Telugu Talliki Jalaharathi project as an integral part of the state’s long-term “Vision 2047” framework. He highlighted its importance in tackling challenges such as recurring droughts, cyclones, and water shortages.

“This is not just a project; it is a commitment to future generations. With efficient planning and execution, this initiative will secure water resources for all regions of the state,” Naidu said.