CM says 90 lakh households and 3.30 crore people will benefit from the drinking water initiative
CityLightBuzz: Proddatur: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, addressing a public meeting in Proddatur, announced a major drinking water initiative under the Jal Jeevan Mission–Amarajeevi Jaladhara programme, with an estimated outlay of ₹30,136 crore to provide tap water connections to households across the state.
The Chief Minister said the government has prepared an action plan to ensure safe drinking water reaches every household, with a focus on protecting public health through reliable access to potable water.According to Chandrababu Naidu, the programme aims to cover around 90 lakh households, 48,000 rural areas and 3.30 crore people across Andhra Pradesh.
₹30,136 Crore Drinking Water Programme
Chandrababu Naidu appreciated Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan for taking up what he described as a large-scale rural drinking water initiative.
He alleged that the previous government had failed to effectively utilise the Jal Jeevan Mission and claimed that Andhra Pradesh received only around ₹2,600 crore under the scheme during the previous administration.
Comparing Andhra Pradesh with other states, he said Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Kerala had received substantially higher allocations through the Jal Jeevan Mission.
Focus on Rural Development
The Chief Minister said villages had suffered due to what he described as neglect during the previous administration, particularly in areas such as roads, street lighting and drinking water.
He said the present government was focusing on comprehensive rural development and announced that ₹1.30 lakh crore would be spent on rural development over the next five years.
Chandrababu Naidu also highlighted the conduct of simultaneous Gram Sabhas in 13,326 villages, describing it as a record initiative.
He said development activities were now being undertaken in villages, including roads, farm ponds and other infrastructure.
₹76,000 Crore Distributed Through NTR Bharosa Pensions
The Chief Minister highlighted the NTR Bharosa pension programme, describing it as one of the world’s largest direct benefit transfer initiatives.
He said around ₹76,000 crore had been distributed to beneficiaries through pensions, providing financial support to economically vulnerable sections of society.
He also said the government was preparing plans to effectively deal with natural challenges, including weather-related situations such as El Niño.
₹24,000 Crore for Irrigation in Two YearsChandrababu Naidu said the government would spend approximately ₹24,000 crore on irrigation in two years, contrasting this with the expenditure during the previous administration.He highlighted irrigation works involving the Handri-Neeva, Veligonda and Polavaram Left Canal, stating that these projects would help provide water to drought-prone regions, particularly Rayalaseema.
He also recalled the linking of the Godavari and Krishna rivers, describing it as an important step towards better utilisation of water resources.
36 Projects Worth ₹35,000 Crore in Three Years
The Chief Minister announced that 36 projects worth ₹35,000 crore would be taken up over the next three years.
He said a project calendar, including timelines, had already been prepared and released.
Chandrababu Naidu further stated that the government intends to complete the Polavaram Project before the next Godavari Pushkaralu and dedicate it to the nation through Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Godavari–Cauvery Linking Could Address Drought, Says CM
Chandrababu Naidu stressed the importance of interlinking rivers and said that the proposed Godavari–Cauvery river-linking project could help address drought conditions across southern India.He claimed that nearly 2,000 TMC of water had flowed into the sea even during periods when drought conditions prevailed in parts of the state.
He said that if at least 200 TMC of Godavari floodwater could be effectively utilised, it could significantly transform the agricultural landscape of Rayalaseema.
Development, Welfare and Good Governance
Concluding his address, Chandrababu Naidu said the state government would pursue a development model based on development, welfare and good governance.
He said the government’s objective was to improve infrastructure, ensure drinking water availability, strengthen irrigation and support rural communities across Andhra Pradesh.
The Chief Minister made these remarks while addressing the public meeting at Proddatur, where he outlined the government’s priorities for drinking water, irrigation, rural development and welfare
