metro india news  I hyderabad

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday visited the sacred temple town of Srisailam and offered Jalaharati (ritual water offering) to River Krishna at the Srisailam project site. Draped in traditional silk attire, the Chief Minister arrived at the dam around 2:10 PM after offering prayers to Sri Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Swamy.

Welcomed by temple priests with Vedic chants and traditional instruments, the Chief Minister walked alongside local farmers towards the dam. Officials explained key project details to the Chief Minister, following which a ritual puja was performed under the guidance of temple scholars.

Chandrababu then offered silk garments to the River Krishna and ceremoniously opened radial gates 6, 7, 8, and 11 of the Srisailam dam, releasing water downstream amid cheers from farmers. Watching the gushing Krishna waters, he expressed deep emotional satisfaction. “This is one of the happiest days of my life. Seeing the reservoir full in the first week of July is a highly auspicious sign. Water is our true wealth, and irrigation projects are modern temples,” he declared.

Addressing the gathering Chandrababu reaffirmed his government's commitment to transforming Rayalaseema into a prosperous region. He emphasized that the government has already spent Rs.68,000 crore on irrigation projects and vowed to meet specific targets.

“Our government is responsible for supplying water to Gedipalli by July 15 and to Kuppam and Madanapalle by July 30,” he said, adding that projects like Pothireddypadu, Galeru-Nagari, and Gandikota were brought in under his leadership.

Reflecting on the past, the Chief Minister recalled that many once believed Rayalaseema was beyond saving, but it was late N.T. Rama Rao who first took bold steps to change that narrative. “Now, I am carrying that mission forward,” he said.

During his speech, Chandrababu also called for better water utilization. “Floodwaters that would otherwise flow into the sea should be harnessed. If Telugu states use such water efficiently, it will benefit farmers on both sides,” he remarked.