Archive · 12 Dec 2025
Aging Kanigiri Reservoir Breaches After Ignored Warnings
The Kanigiri Reservoir, which is 125 years old, has broken in three places after heavy rains.
Farmers and officials had been warning for months that the reservoir needed repairs, but their requests for ₹45 crore were ignored.
The reservoir, built during British times, used to help farm 1.5 lakh acres of land.
Now, only 3 of its 14 gates work, and the walls are weak.
Farmers are worried because the reservoir is very important for farming, drinking water, and keeping groundwater levels up.
If it collapses, many families and farms could be in big trouble.
The 125-year-old Kanigiri Reservoir breached at three locations after heavy rains.
Farmers and the Pennar Delta Project Committee had warned for months about the need for ₹45 crore in repairs.
Only 3 of the reservoir's 14 shutter gates are still functioning.
Unchecked fish pond expansion and lack of maintenance have weakened the reservoir's embankments.
The reservoir's collapse could devastate over a lakh acres of farmland and thousands of families.
- Who
- Farmers, Pennar Delta Project Committee, Irrigation Department, Jetty Rajagopal Reddy, MLA Vemireddy Prashanthi Reddy
- What
- Breach of the Kanigiri Reservoir's southern channel
- When
- After recent heavy rains
- Where
- Near Annareddypalem and Bapanapadu, Nellore
- Why
- Due to decades of neglect, unchecked fish pond expansion, and lack of repairs
- Reservoir Age
- 125 years
- Construction Period
- 1890-1898
- Irrigated Acres
- 1.5 lakh acres
- Requested Repair Funds
- ₹45 crore
- Functioning Shutter Gates
- 3 out of 14
- Critical Locations
- Annareddypalem, Bapanapadu
- Chairman
- Jetty Rajagopal Reddy
- MLA
- Vemireddy Prashanthi Reddy