Chandrababu, Jagan pay tributes to Sir Arthur Cotton on birth anniversary
Synopsis
In a rare cross-party moment, both Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu and opposition leader Jagan Mohan Reddy paid tribute to Sir Arthur Cotton on his birth anniversary — while the state's Water Resources Minister used the occasion to announce a ₹150.09 crore upgrade of the 19th-century Dowleswaram Barrage Cotton himself built.
Key Takeaways
Andhra Pradesh CM N.
Chandrababu Naidu and former CM Y.
Jagan Mohan Reddy paid tributes to Sir Arthur Cotton on his birth anniversary on Friday .
Cotton is credited with constructing the Dowleswaram Project near Rajamahendravaram , providing irrigation and drinking water to lakhs of acres.
Water Resources Minister Nimmala Ramanaidu announced ₹150.09 crore for installation of 117 new gates at the Dowleswaram Barrage .
A LiDAR survey for Godavari Delta rejuvenation has been completed at a cost of ₹14 crore ; a DPR is being prepared.
The minister stated that the Polavaram project has been brought back on track under Chandrababu Naidu's leadership.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and former Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Friday separately paid tributes to British irrigation engineer Sir Arthur Cotton on his birth anniversary, honouring his transformative role in turning the Godavari districts into fertile agricultural land.
Chandrababu's Tribute on X
Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu posted his tribute on social media platform X, describing Cotton as a visionary who 'breathed life into the Godavari Delta' and 'illuminated the lives of lakhs of farming families.' Naidu affirmed that the irrigation projects being undertaken by his government draw direct inspiration from Cotton's legacy. 'That is why Cotton still lives vibrantly in the hearts of the people even today,' Naidu wrote.
Jagan Mohan Reddy's Homage
YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) president Jagan Mohan Reddy also posted his tribute, crediting Cotton with the construction of the Dowleswaram Project near Rajamahendravaram — a barrage built to check floodwaters from flowing into the sea, thereby channelling irrigation and drinking water to 'lakhs of acres.' 'His contributions to agriculture and irrigation can never be forgotten,' Jagan wrote.
Water Resources Minister Flags Key Projects
Minister for Water Resources Nimmala Ramanaidu garlanded Cotton's portrait at his camp office in Vijayawada, lauding the engineer for constructing the Dowleswaram and Krishna Barrages and an extensive canal network across the twin Godavari districts and Krishna district. Ramanaidu remarked that the previous five years of YSRCP governance had, in his view, damaged the Irrigation Department and stalled projects including Polavaram, and that Chandrababu Naidu had since steered the sector back on track.
₹150.09 Crore Allocation for Dowleswaram Barrage
Ramanaidu announced that ₹150.09 crore has been allocated for the installation of 117 new gates at the Dowleswaram Barrage, with work set to commence shortly. He also noted that a LiDAR survey for the rejuvenation of the Godavari Delta has been completed at a cost of ₹14 crore, and that a Detailed Project Report (DPR) is currently being prepared based on the survey findings.
The tributes reflect a rare moment of cross-party consensus on Cotton's enduring legacy, even as political differences over irrigation governance remain sharp. With the Polavaram project back in focus and fresh capital being committed to the Dowleswaram Barrage, the state's irrigation future is once again framed through the lens of Cotton's 19th-century vision.
Point of View
But the minister's pointed criticism of YSRCP's irrigation record on Cotton's birth anniversary turns a commemorative occasion into a political statement. With Polavaram still unfinished and the delta network ageing, the real tribute to Cotton would be execution, not oratory.
NationPress
2 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Sir Arthur Cotton and why is he significant to Andhra Pradesh?
Sir Arthur Cotton was a 19th-century British irrigation engineer who constructed the Dowleswaram Barrage across the Godavari River near Rajamahendravaram, transforming the Godavari delta into fertile agricultural land. His canal network across the Godavari and Krishna districts continues to supply irrigation and drinking water to lakhs of acres, making him a revered figure in Andhra Pradesh.
What did CM Chandrababu Naidu say about Sir Arthur Cotton?
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu posted on X that Cotton 'breathed life into the Godavari Delta' and affirmed that his government's irrigation projects draw inspiration from Cotton's vision. He credited Cotton with transforming Godavari districts into lush green fields and bestowing lasting prosperity on farming families.
What is the ₹150.09 crore allocation announced for the Dowleswaram Barrage?
Water Resources Minister Nimmala Ramanaidu announced an allocation of ₹150.09 crore for the installation of 117 new gates at the Dowleswaram Barrage, the structure originally built by Sir Arthur Cotton. Work is expected to commence shortly, according to the minister.
What is the LiDAR survey for the Godavari Delta?
A LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) survey for the rejuvenation of the Godavari Delta has been completed at a cost of ₹14 crore. A Detailed Project Report (DPR) is currently being prepared based on the survey's findings, according to Minister Nimmala Ramanaidu.
Did Jagan Mohan Reddy also pay tribute to Sir Arthur Cotton?
Yes, YSRCP president Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy posted his tribute on social media, crediting Cotton with building the Dowleswaram Project and calling his contributions to agriculture and irrigation unforgettable. Both the ruling party and the principal opposition thus marked the birth anniversary, reflecting Cotton's non-partisan standing in Andhra Pradesh.
