Andhra govt launches water grid project

Rural Development Minister P Ramachandra Reddy said on Sunday that the statewide water grid project would ensure supply of clean drinking water to every household from 2022 for at least the next 30 years.

Andhra government, Andhra Pradesh government, Andhra Pradesh drinking water project, Andhra drinking water project, India news, Indian Express

The Andhra Pradesh government has launched an ambitious project to provide a drinking water connection to every household in the state by 2022.

Panchayati Raj and Rural Development Minister P Ramachandra Reddy said on Sunday that the statewide water grid project would ensure supply of clean drinking water to every household from 2022 for at least the next 30 years.

Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister Botsa Satyanarayana said groundwater levels in the state have fallen to below 1,100 feet in districts like Anantapur, Chittoor, Srikakulam and Vizianagaram. “There is an immediate need to augment water supply in many of the districts. The groundwater in Godavari districts is getting polluted due to aquaculture too. The government plans to lay a massive network of pipelines all over the state to supply clean drinking water,’’ he said.

“Supply of water through tankers has been significantly increased in Kadapa, Chittoor, Nellore, Anantapur and Prakasam districts. The number of habitations that receive water through tankers has increased from 591 in 2011 to 6,267 habitations in 2019. Kadapa and Nellore districts face severe shortage of drinking water in the summer season. So, we have come up with this water grid plan,’’ he said.

Under the plan, drinking water will be supplied to 46,982 rural area habitations and 99 urban area habitations.

The project aims to provide 1418.49 million litres of water daily to about 110 urban local bodies in the state. Under the water grid system, water from rivers and canals would be sent to reservoirs which would then supply it to households. Botsa said the priority would be cover the Rayalaseema region, which frequently reels under water scarcity.

Officials said the water grid project is estimated to cost

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Rs 46,675 crore — Rs 37,475 crore is to be invested in the first phase and Rs 9,200 crore in the second phase. A loan of Rs 2,500 from Asian Development Bank will kick-start the project, officials said. The state government has decided to use Jal Jeevan and MGNREGS schemes to execute the project.

Sreenivas Janyala

Sreenivas Janyala is a Deputy Associate Editor at The Indian Express, where he serves as one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political and economic landscape of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. With a career spanning over two decades in mainstream journalism, he provides deep-dive analysis and frontline reporting on the intricate dynamics of South Indian governance. Expertise and Experience Regional Specialization: Based in Hyderabad, Sreenivas has spent more than 20 years documenting the evolution of the Telugu-speaking states. His reporting was foundational during the historic Telangana statehood movement and continues to track the post-bifurcation development of both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Key Coverage Beats: His extensive portfolio covers a vast spectrum of critical issues: High-Stakes Politics: Comprehensive tracking of regional powerhouses (BRS, TDP, YSRCP, and Congress), electoral shifts, and the political careers of figures like K. Chandrashekar Rao, Chandrababu Naidu, and Jagan Mohan Reddy. Internal Security & Conflict: Authoritative reporting on Left-Wing Extremism (LWE), the decline of the Maoist movement in former hotbeds, and intelligence-led investigations into regional security modules. Governance & Infrastructure: Detailed analysis of massive irrigation projects (like Kaleshwaram and Polavaram), capital city developments (Amaravati), and the implementation of state welfare schemes. Crisis & Health Reporting: Led the publication's ground-level coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic in South India and major industrial incidents, such as the Vizag gas leak. Analytical Depth: Beyond daily news, Sreenivas is known for his "Explained" pieces that demystify complex regional disputes, such as river water sharing and judicial allocations between the sister states. ... Read More

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