Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday visited the Srisailam dam in Kurnool district and ceremonially released water through four gates as part of his Rayalaseema-focused irrigation drive.
After inspecting a photo exhibition at the project site, Naidu offered special prayers to River Krishna and performed puja at the Srisailam Mahakshetra temple. Water was released from gates 6, 7, 8, and 11. He was accompanied by ministers Nimmala Ramanaidu and BC Janardhan Reddy, MP Byreddy Sabari, and MLAs Bhuma Akhilapriya and Budda Rajasekhar Reddy.
Naidu described the early July inflow into Srisailam reservoir now holding 200 TMC as auspicious and pledged to prioritise irrigation across drought-prone Rayalaseema. “Water is our wealth. With it, farmers’ troubles can be solved. Irrigation projects are modern temples,” he said.
Blaming the previous YSRCP regime for neglecting the region, he claimed his government was now ensuring water reaches Jeedipally by July 15 and Kuppam and Madanapalle by the end of the month. He referenced key projects Pothireddypadu, Galeru-Nagari, and Gandikota as vital links initiated during his earlier tenure.
Naidu said ₹68,000 crore had been spent on irrigation so far and called for mutual water sharing between the Telugu states to prevent wastage into the sea. He asserted that the Polavaram project had made Rayalaseema’s revival possible and revealed plans for industrial growth in hubs like Kopparthi and Orvakal.
Linking diet and development, he noted rising health awareness in the region and a shift towards traditional grains and increased consumption of fruits and vegetables. He framed this nutritional change as part of broader transformation efforts in Rayalaseema.
