
Sat Jan 24 10:26:04 UTC 2026: ### Headline: Andhra Pradesh Achieves Record Water Transfer to Rayalaseema Region
The Story:
The Andhra Pradesh Irrigation Department has announced a record-breaking achievement in transferring water to the drought-prone Rayalaseema region through the Handri–Neeva project. A total of 40.109 TMCft of water was drawn, exceeding the project’s designed capacity, within just 190 days. This milestone marks the first time such a significant quantity of water has been conveyed to the region since the project’s completion, bringing relief to farmers across the Rayalaseema districts.
The achievement was celebrated by Rayalaseema region ministers Payyavula Keshav and BC Janardhan Reddy, along with Rayadurg MLA Kalva Srinivasulu, who expressed their gratitude to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. Improvements to the project’s infrastructure, including increasing the number of operational pumps and widening the Handri–Neeva canals, were cited as key factors in enabling the record water transfer. Chief Minister Naidu has urged officials to aim for a new target of 50 TMCft of water transfer, with the Irrigation Minister Nimmala Ramanaidu assuring that efforts are underway to achieve this goal by the end of February or the first week of March.
Key Points:
- 40.109 TMCft of water transferred through the Handri–Neeva project, exceeding designed capacity.
- Record achieved in just 190 days.
- Infrastructure improvements, including increased pump capacity and canal widening, were crucial.
- Ministers and MLA expressed gratitude to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.
- Target set to transfer 50 TMCft of water by the end of February or early March.
- The Muchumarri project, part of the Handri–Neeva scheme, played a key role in successful water supply.
Key Takeaways:
- The Andhra Pradesh government is prioritizing irrigation projects to address water scarcity in the Rayalaseema region.
- Infrastructure improvements are significantly impacting the efficiency of water transfer projects.
- Political leaders are actively involved and taking credit for successful irrigation initiatives.
- The government is setting ambitious targets for future water transfers, indicating a commitment to addressing water needs.