Andhra Pradesh's ₹75 Crore Boost for Guntur's Water Lifeline

In a major step to enhance drinking water and irrigation facilities across five mandals, the Andhra Pradesh government has approved the expansion and modernisation of the Guntur channel.

This project will enable Guntur city and the Mangalagiri-Tadepalli municipal corporations to draw increased water from the Prakasam Barrage. The government has sanctioned ₹30 crore for the first phase, with a total outlay of ₹75 crore, though the irrigation department estimates the full project will require at least ₹625 crore.

The Guntur channel, a 47-km irrigation lifeline of the district, was initially designed to supply 3.2 tmc ft of irrigation water and 1.42 tmc ft for drinking purposes. Under the expansion, the channel will be extended to 75 km, improving irrigation coverage to approximately 48,000 acres and supplying additional drinking water to around 33 villages.

The project addresses long-standing demands from farmers, especially those at the tail-end who faced chronic water shortages. Once completed, the upgraded channel will also increase water inflow capacity from 600 to 750 cusecs and include a surplus regulator to better manage excess water flow.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.