Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Monday, 5 October 2026, declared that interlinking the Godavari and Cauvery rivers could permanently free southern states from recurring drought, speaking at the launch of the 'Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 – Amarajeevi Jaladhara' programme in Proddatur, Kadapa district. Naidu lamented that as much as 2,000 TMC of water drains into the sea even during drought years, calling it an avoidable national loss.

The Water Interlinking Vision

Naidu argued that if even 200 TMC of Godavari floodwater were harnessed, the Rayalaseema region — historically one of the most drought-prone in peninsular India — could be transformed into a landscape of abundant greenery and agricultural prosperity. He credited his government with already completing the Godavari-Krishna river interlinking, presenting it as a proof of concept for the more ambitious Godavari-Cauvery proposal. He also vowed to complete the long-delayed Polavaram project before the upcoming Godavari Pushkaram, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi set to dedicate it to the nation.

Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 Launch

The Chief Minister, alongside Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan and state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president PVN Madhav, laid the foundation for the Jal Jeevan Mission and Amarajeevi Jaladhara programmes, carrying a combined outlay of ₹30,136 crore. The initiative is designed to deliver piped tap water to 90 lakh households, covering 48,000 rural areas and an estimated 3.30 crore people across Andhra Pradesh. Separately, Naidu reiterated that 36 irrigation projects worth ₹35,000 crore will be launched over the next three years, with a completion schedule already released.

Attack on the Previous Government

Naidu launched a pointed attack on the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), accusing it of squandering Andhra Pradesh's share of central funds under the Jal Jeevan Mission. He noted that states such as Uttar Pradesh received ₹1 lakh crore, Madhya Pradesh secured ₹83,000 crore, and Kerala drew ₹85,000 crore from the Centre, while Andhra Pradesh managed only ₹2,600 crore under the previous dispensation. 'Rural communities were left in tears due to the destructive policies of the previous regime,' Naidu said, referring to the YSRCP tenure, which he labelled the 'Axe Party.' He alleged that villages were left without roads, streetlights, or water connectivity under that government.

Broader Development Push

Naidu said the coalition government had spent 28 months laying what he described as strong foundations for the state's reconstruction. In just the last seven days, he said, nine separate development programmes had been launched for villages and towns. Under the 'Palle Panduga' initiative, works worth ₹11,085 crore have been undertaken for village roads, drains, and streetlights. Housing title deeds (pattas) worth ₹52,000 crore have been distributed across the state, including in Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, and Mangalagiri. A 'Global Horticulture Hub' project worth ₹1 lakh crore has been initiated to reshape the Rayalaseema region's economic trajectory, and the government has set a target of constructing 19 lakh houses by 2029.

What Comes Next

The Godavari-Cauvery interlinking proposal, if formalised, would require inter-state consensus and clearances from multiple central bodies — a process that has historically proved contentious among river-sharing states. The immediate deliverables to watch are the Polavaram project's completion timeline, the rollout pace of the Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 tap connections, and the launch of the 36 irrigation projects over the next three years. The scale of the spending announcements signals that water security and rural infrastructure will remain the centrepiece of Naidu's political messaging ahead of the next electoral cycle.