Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Monday, 18 May directed officials to add 11 more irrigation projects to the state's high-priority list, expanding the Irrigation Calendar from 25 to 36 projects and mandating their completion on schedule. The directive came during a review meeting on irrigation projects held at the Secretariat in Amaravati.

Expanding the Irrigation Calendar

Naidu had originally unveiled the Irrigation Calendar covering 25 irrigation projects at a recent Collectors' Conference. At Monday's review, he instructed officials to fold in 11 additional priority projects and treat all 36 with equal urgency. He stressed there should be no negligence in executing these works and directed Finance Department officials to ensure adequate funding for both land acquisition and civil works.

Polavaram Project Progress

Officials briefed the Chief Minister on the flagship Polavaram Project, reporting that 88% of civil works and 93% of land acquisition have been completed, while 45% of rehabilitation and resettlement relocation is done. The twin tunnels connecting the Polavaram Right Canal are 85% complete. Works on the left canal approach channel, head regulator, and irrigation tunnel are currently under way. Naidu directed that compensation to displaced families under the Polavaram rehabilitation and resettlement package be implemented strictly in accordance with law, and that relocation be completed by April 2027 without dispute. He also proposed constructing an iconic bridge downstream of the Polavaram spillway, envisioning it as a major tourism landmark.

Key Milestones Across Other Projects

Under Handri-Neeva Phase-1, 92% of canal widening has been completed, while 85% of lining work on the Kuppam-Punganur canals under Phase-2 is done. In a notable first, 52 billion cubic feet of water was diverted from the Malyala Lift Scheme to the Rayalaseema region, filling 432 tanks completely. Since June 2024, an expenditure of ₹2,123 crore has been incurred on irrigation works. The Chief Minister directed that water be supplied through the left canal via the Purushothapatnam Lift Scheme from July 2025.

Veligonda and Downstream Linkages

Naidu directed officials to ensure Phase 1 of the Veligonda Project is completed by July, noting that ₹2,019 crore more is required for pending works covering head works, canals, distributaries, land acquisition, and rehabilitation packages. Officials were instructed to remove tunnel boring machine-related obstacles and meet the deadline. The Chief Minister also directed that once Polavaram waters reach Meghadrigedda through the left canal, they be further linked to Vamsadhara, Nagavali, and Champavathi, and called for a cost study on the Meghadrigedda-Champavathi link. He additionally directed that East Coast Reservoir Flood Flow Canal Dam Gap-1 and Gap-2 works be completed within the stipulated timeline.

What Comes Next

With the expanded Irrigation Calendar now covering 36 projects, the administration faces a tight execution window ahead of the kharif season. The Polavaram relocation deadline of April 2027 and the July targets for Veligonda and the Purushothapatnam supply line will serve as the earliest stress tests of the state's delivery capacity.