‘AP Government giving top priority to Veligonda project’

Metro India News | AMARAVATI

Andhra Pradesh Water Resources Minister Nimmala Rama Naidu on Wednesday said the coalition government led by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is working relentlessly to complete pending irrigation projects and transform the state into a fertile and water-secure region. He accused former Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy of neglecting crucial irrigation infrastructure and creating hurdles to development.

The minister made the remarks during his inspection of the ongoing works at the Veligonda Project in Dornala of Markapuram district. Nimmala Rama Naidu stayed at the project site for nearly 20 hours, personally monitoring tunnelling, lining and benching works inside the tunnels. He also inspected the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) that remains stuck inside Tunnel-2.

Addressing officials, workers and media representatives, the minister said the Veligonda project has become an example of the alleged administrative failures of the previous YSRCP government. He claimed that despite nearly Rs.3,000 crore worth of works remaining incomplete, the project had earlier been declared dedicated to the nation.

“While Chandrababu Naidu is striving to bring water to the fields, Jagan is speaking the language of violence and bloodshed,” the minister alleged, urging people to support development-oriented leadership.

He said the coalition government is according the highest priority to the Veligonda project to bring irrigation benefits and drinking water facilities to the people of the erstwhile Prakasam district. He noted that the Chief Minister is personally reviewing the progress of the project every week.

The minister explained that the 9.8-metre diameter and 175-metre-long TBM got trapped near the 12-km point inside Tunnel-2. He alleged that the previous government failed to make efforts to vacate a court stay related to TBM removal. According to him, the present government, with the intervention of the Advocate General, succeeded in getting the stay lifted to facilitate further action.

He said officials have been directed to prepare an action plan for the speedy removal of the TBM and completion of pending works. The government is also planning to release nearly Rs.900 crore soon towards rehabilitation and compensation for displaced families. Nimmala further stated that works on major projects including Polavaram Project, Handri-Neeva and Godavari water diversion schemes are progressing rapidly, with the government targeting completion of Polavaram by the 2027 Pushkaram season.