Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday, 15 July declared his vision to interlink rivers across the state, spanning from the Vamsadhara in the north to the Penna in the south. Speaking at a public meeting near Ibrahimpatnam in NTR district, Naidu drew a parallel with the Golden Quadrilateral highway project, arguing that a nationwide river-linking programme holds similar transformative potential for India's future.

Key Announcements on Irrigation

Naidu reaffirmed that the state government will complete 36 priority irrigation projects over the next three years with a combined investment of ₹35,000 crore. He underscored the economic logic behind the push: 'If water flowing into the sea is effectively utilised for irrigation, drinking water and industrial needs, it will generate enormous wealth.'

The Chief Minister was addressing the gathering after offering Jala Harathi to the Godavari waters at the sacred confluence of the Krishna and Godavari rivers near Ibrahimpatnam.

Pattiseema Project: A Case Study in Water Transfer

Naidu highlighted the Pattiseema Lift Irrigation Project as a model for what river interlinking can achieve. Built at a cost of ₹1,300 crore and completed within a year by the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) government, the project has diverted 450 TMC of Godavari floodwaters to the Krishna River since 2015.

He credited the project with stabilising irrigation across 13 lakh acres in the Krishna Delta using 80 TMC of water, and said it has made the delta 'green and prosperous' despite early criticism. By routing Godavari water through the Polavaram Right Main Canal, the government has also been able to conserve Krishna waters in the Srisailam reservoir and supply them to Rayalaseema, Naidu said.

Irrigation Spending Under Scrutiny

The Chief Minister stated that the government spent ₹68,000 crore on the irrigation sector between 2014 and 2019, and an additional ₹24,000 crore in the two years since 2024. The coalition government's stated goal, he said, is to provide irrigation to every cultivable acre in Andhra Pradesh.

Tribute to Engineer Dr K.L. Rao

The event also marked the 124th birth anniversary of eminent engineer Dr K.L. Rao, to whose portrait Naidu offered floral tributes. The Chief Minister noted that Rao was instrumental in building landmark irrigation structures including the Srisailam, Nagarjuna Sagar, Hirakud, and Kosi dams, and also served as an international water expert for the United Nations in Egypt and Sudan.

Naidu said the government is organising statewide programmes to inspire future generations of engineers with the legacy of Dr Rao. Looking ahead, the river-interlinking vision and the 36 pending irrigation projects will serve as a key test of the coalition government's delivery record over the next three years.