30 Years Of Dream! What’s So Special With Veligonda?

The long awaited Veligonda project is set to enter a new chapter as CM Chandrababu Naidu will launch Phase 1 and release Krishna water on August 31.

The project is special for several reasons. Chandrababu Naidu laid the foundation stone for Veligonda in 1996, when he was the Chief Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh. After nearly three decades, he is now set to inaugurate its first phase.

Veligonda is expected to bring major relief to drought affected areas of Prakasam, Markapuram, Nellore and Kadapa districts. The project is designed to divert Krishna water from the Srisailam reservoir through gravity and store it in Nallamala Sagar.

Once fully completed, the project is expected to provide irrigation to around 4.47 lakh acres and drinking water benefits to nearly 23 lakh people across 30 mandals.

The first phase will release 10.70 TMC of Krishna water into Nallamala Sagar. The government is targeting irrigation benefits for around 1.19 lakh acres and drinking water supply for about 4 lakh people in the first phase.

The project could also give a boost to agriculture, horticulture and food processing in the region. Better irrigation is expected to reduce dependence on groundwater, improve farming opportunities and create more employment in rural areas.

The project has faced several challenges over the years, including tunnel construction, land acquisition and rehabilitation of displaced families. The present government says it has accelerated the works and focused on compensation and rehabilitation.

For the people of the drought affected region, Veligonda is more than an irrigation project. It represents the long awaited arrival of Krishna water and hopes for a better future.

August 31 will therefore be an important day for the region, marking the beginning of Phase 1 of a project that has been in the making for nearly 30 years.