Godavari-Cauvery Link: Drought Solution?

Interlinking of Godavari and Cauvery rivers can make southern states free from the problem of drought, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said on Monday.

He lamented that even during drought conditions, 2,000 TMC of water is flowing into the sea.

If at least 200 TMC of Godavari floodwater is utilised, the Rayalaseema region will flourish with abundant greenery and crops, he said while launching the 'Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 – Amarajeevi Jaladhara' programmes in Proddatur in Kadapa district.

Chandrababu Naidu said it was his government that interlinked the Godavari and Krishna rivers.

He vowed to complete the Polavaram project before the Godavari Pushkaram and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi will dedicate the project to the nation.

Reiterating that 36 irrigation projects worth Rs 35,000 crore will be launched over the next three years, he said the government has already released a schedule for completion of the projects.

The Chief Minister, along with Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan and state BJP President PVN Madhav, laid the foundation for the 'Jal Jeevan Mission' and 'Amarajeevi Jaladhara' programmes aimed at providing tap water connections to every household, with an outlay of Rs 30,136 crore.

“We are implementing measures to provide water to 90 lakh households, 48,000 rural areas, and 3.30 crore people,” Chandrababu Naidu said.

The Chief Minister slammed the YSR Congress Party for undermining Jal Jeevan Mission. He said while states like Uttar Pradesh (Rs 1 lakh crore), Madhya Pradesh (Rs 83,000 crore), and Kerala (Rs 85,000 crore) received significant funds from the Centre under the Jal Jeevan Mission, the previous government did a disservice to Andhra Pradesh by securing only Rs 2,600 crore.

He alleged that villages suffered due to the negligence and failure of the previous government, as they were left without roads, streetlights, or water.

“Rural communities were left in tears due to the destructive policies of the previous regime. When considering the state of roads, compare the past with the present. People endured a hellish experience on the roads during the 'Axe Party's' (YSRCP's) tenure,” he said.

Chandrababu Naidu claimed that with firm resolve and the Centre's cooperation, the coalition government successfully laid strong foundations for the state's reconstruction over the past 28 months.

He stated that the government launched nine programmes in just the last seven days aimed at the development of villages and towns across the state.

Through the 'Palle Panduga' initiative, we have undertaken works worth Rs 11,085 crore to provide infrastructure such as roads, drains, and streetlights in villages, he said.

“We have distributed housing pattas (title deeds) for residential sites worth Rs 52,000 crore across the state, including in Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, and Mangalagiri. We have initiated a 'Global Horticulture Hub' project worth Rs 1 lakh crore, aimed at transforming the future and direction of the Rayalaseema region. We are working towards the goal of providing a house to every family by 2029. As part of this initiative, we will construct 19 lakh houses. Today, we launched projects worth Rs 30,156 crore under the Jal Jeevan Mission and the 'Amarajeevi Jaladhara' programme.”