Godavari Waters reach North Andhra through Polavaram left main canal

Metro India News | AMARAVATI 

A decades-old dream of the people of North Andhra became a reality on Wednesday as Godavari waters from the Polavaram Project’s Left Main Canal reached the region for the first time, with Anakapalli district’s Payakaraopet witnessing the historic event.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu participated in the programme and offered Jala Harathi to the Godavari waters after they were released into the canal. He sprinkled the sacred water on his head and later prostrated himself on the ground, expressing gratitude at the fulfilment of the long-cherished aspirations of the people of North Andhra.

As the water began flowing through the canal, Naidu removed his green scarf, twirled it in the air and celebrated the occasion. Leaders and farmers present at the venue followed suit, waving their scarves in jubilation. Earlier, the Chief Minister unveiled a commemorative plaque at Payakaraopet. Irrigation Minister Nimmala Ramanaidu pressed the regulator button to release Godavari water into the Uttarandhra Sujala Sravanthi scheme. Naidu and several farmers subsequently operated the regulator.

The movement of Polavaram waters to North Andhra represents a major engineering achievement. The Left Main Canal cuts through the Eastern Ghats and crosses rivers including Yeleru, Pampa, Tandava, Varaha and Sarada.

Aqueducts have been constructed at several locations, while a siphon carries water beneath the bed of the Yeleru river. Through its integration with Uttarandhra Sujala Sravanthi, the canal will initially provide irrigation to 2.87 lakh acres and drinking water to 5.23 lakh people across Anakapalli, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Parvathipuram and Srikakulam districts. 

The government aims to eventually extend irrigation coverage to eight lakh acres across North Andhra. Ministers and public representatives, including Vangalapudi Anitha, Achchennaidu, Narayana, Kolusu Parthasarathy, Kollu Ravindra, BJP state president PVN Madhav and MP CM Ramesh, attended the event.