Archive · 17 Dec 2025
Andhra Pradesh's Irrigation Projects Spark Disputes
The Andhra Pradesh government has given Rs 15 crore to fix the Vedadri–Kanchala Lift Irrigation Scheme, which helps farmers by bringing water from the Krishna River to their fields.
This scheme hasn't worked for the past five years because it wasn't taken care of.
The government decided to fix it after some leaders asked for help.
The money will be used to repair and make the scheme work again, which will help farmers grow crops better.
Meanwhile, the Telangana government has filed a petition in the Supreme Court against Andhra Pradesh's Polavaram-Nallamala Sagar Link Project (PNLP).
Telangana claims that Andhra Pradesh is violating several legal and regulatory frameworks by proceeding with the project, which aims to divert surplus floodwaters from the Godavari River to the Krishna and Gundlakamma basins.
The project is estimated to cost Rs 58,000 crore and is designed to benefit the Rayalaseema and south coastal regions in Andhra Pradesh.
Telangana has raised concerns about inter-state implications, potential submergence risks, and environmental violations.
The Andhra Pradesh government has sanctioned Rs 15 crore for the repairs and renovation of the Vedadri–Kanchala Lift Irrigation Scheme, which has been non-functional for the past five years due to lack of maintenance.
The approval was given after representations by local leaders and a promise made by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, aiming to irrigate 17,000 acres of farmland in Jaggaiahpet and Nandigama assembly constituencies.
The Telangana government has filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the Polavaram-Nallamala Sagar Link Project (PNLP), accusing Andhra Pradesh of violating the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal (GWDT) Award of 1980, the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act (APRA) of 2014, and Central Water Commission (CWC) guidelines.
The PNLP, estimated at around Rs 58,000 crore, is designed to divert 2 TMC of water per day from the under-construction Polavaram dam on the Godavari River to the Krishna and Gundlakamma basins, benefiting the Rayalaseema and south coastal regions in Andhra Pradesh.
Telangana's petition seeks an interim stay on ongoing expansion works of the Polavaram project’s Right Main Canal (RMC) and a recent e-procurement tender for preparing the Detailed Project Report (DPR), highlighting concerns about inter-state implications, potential submergence risks, and environmental violations.
- Who
- Andhra Pradesh State Government, Telangana Government, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Water Resources Department
- What
- Administrative sanction for repairs and renovation of Vedadri–Kanchala Lift Irrigation Scheme and a dispute over the Polavaram-Nallamala Sagar Link Project (PNLP)
- When
- Monday (specific date not mentioned) for the Vedadri–Kanchala Lift Irrigation Scheme, Tuesday (specific date not mentioned) for the PNLP dispute
- Where
- Jaggaiahpet mandal, NTR district, Andhra Pradesh for the Vedadri–Kanchala Lift Irrigation Scheme; Supreme Court for the PNLP dispute
- Why
- To ensure effective functioning of the irrigation scheme and benefit farmers for the Vedadri–Kanchala Lift Irrigation Scheme; to restrain Andhra Pradesh from proceeding with the PNLP project, which is accused of violating several legal and regulatory frameworks
- Project
- Vedadri–Kanchala Lift Irrigation Scheme
- Location
- Jaggaiahpet mandal, NTR district
- Cost
- Rs 15 crore
- Beneficiaries
- 17,000 acres of farmland
- Duration of Non-Functionality
- 5 years
- Government Order
- GO Rt No 671
- Responsible Department
- Water Resources Department
- Key Officials
- G Sai Prasad, N Chandrababu Naidu, Tangirala Sowmya, Sriram Rajagopal, Kesineni Sivanath
- Project
- Polavaram-Nallamala Sagar Link Project (PNLP)
- Estimated Cost
- Rs 58,000 crore
- Water Diversion
- 2 TMC per day
- Key Concerns
- Inter-state implications, submergence risks, environmental violations
- Petition Filed
- Supreme Court
- Date of Petition
- Tuesday (specific date not mentioned)
