LIVE: CM Chandrababu Inaugurates Veligonda Phase 1

AP Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu inaugurated the first phase of the Veligonda Project today, marking a historic moment for the state. Interestingly, Naidu had laid the foundation stone for the project nearly 30 years ago, in 1996, making the occasion particularly significant.

The Phase 1 project will facilitate the diversion of 10.7 TMC of Krishna floodwater from the Srisailam reservoir to Nallamala Sagar. It is expected to provide irrigation to around 1.19 lakh acres and drinking water to nearly four lakh people.

The project is particularly important for the drought affected regions of Prakasam, Markapuram, Nellore and Kadapa. It is expected to provide much needed relief to farmers while also addressing drinking water problems and reducing dependence on groundwater in several areas.

For the people of the region, Veligonda is more than an irrigation project as it represents a decades long dream finally becoming reality. The completion of Phase 1 is expected to give a major boost to agriculture and transform the socio economic landscape of the drought prone areas.