Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu inaugurated the first phase of the Poola Subbaiah Veligonda Irrigation Project on August 31, 2026. The project is designed to divert Krishna River water from the Srisailam Reservoir towards the Nallamala Sagar reservoir through a gravity-based system. The initiative is particularly important for drought-prone parts of Andhra Pradesh, where water scarcity has affected agriculture and drinking-water availability for decades.
A major feature of the Veligonda Project is its gravity-flow mechanism. Instead of depending primarily on energy-intensive pumping, water from the Srisailam Reservoir is intended to move naturally through twin tunnels constructed beneath the Nallamala hills. The broader project envisages diverting about 43.50 TMC of excess floodwater from the Krishna River system.
Under Phase-I, approximately 10.70 TMC of Krishna River water will be stored in the Nallamala Sagar reservoir. The phase is expected to provide irrigation facilities to around 1.19 lakh acres and drinking water to nearly 4 lakh people in drought-affected areas. It will also provide fluoride-free drinking water to 1,657 habitations, making the project significant from both agricultural and public-health perspectives.
The project includes two major tunnels beneath the Nallamala hills. Tunnel-I is approximately 18.82 km long, while Tunnel-II is about 18.787 km long. Their construction presented substantial engineering difficulties, including geological problems during excavation. A soft fault zone reportedly trapped the tunnel-boring machine used for Tunnel-I for around 16 months, requiring specialised engineering solutions.
According to the Chief Minister, Phase-I has been completed at an expenditure of approximately ₹7,983 crore, against a total estimated project cost of ₹10,200 crore. The first phase also includes more than 21 kilometres of feeder canal works. The government has announced that work on Phase-II will continue, with a target of completing it by 2028.
The Veligonda initiative has roots going back several decades. The idea of diverting Krishna water to drought-affected areas was associated with efforts dating to the late 1970s, while a formal project concept was developed in the late 1980s. Naidu performed the project’s first bhoomi puja at Gottipadiya on March 5, 1996. The long gap between conception and Phase-I inauguration makes the 2026 milestone particularly significant.
Large irrigation projects can involve displacement and changes to local settlements. The Veligonda Project involves the submergence of 11 villages, making rehabilitation and resettlement an important component. The Andhra Pradesh government has reported compensation for thousands of displaced families, while rehabilitation work for remaining affected families has also been underway.
The project is expected to strengthen irrigation, drinking-water security and agricultural development in parts of Prakasam, Nellore and Kadapa regions. By improving access to Krishna water, the project could reduce dependence on uncertain rainfall and groundwater resources. Its gravity-based design also has potential advantages in reducing recurring energy requirements associated with conventional lift irrigation.
The Veligonda Project is an important example of large-scale water-resource management aimed at transferring water to drought-prone areas. For government-exam aspirants, it connects current affairs with topics such as irrigation, river-water management, agriculture and regional development.
Phase-I is expected to irrigate around 1.19 lakh acres and provide drinking water to nearly 4 lakh people. Improved irrigation can support agricultural productivity, reduce vulnerability to rainfall variability and potentially strengthen rural livelihoods.
The project involves the Krishna River, Srisailam Reservoir and Nallamala hills, making it relevant to Indian geography and water-resource questions. Students should remember that the project uses a gravity-based system to transfer Krishna water towards Nallamala Sagar.
The twin tunnels are a notable engineering component. Their construction through the Nallamala hills involved difficult geological conditions and specialised tunnelling techniques. Such details can be relevant to questions on major infrastructure projects in India.
The project also highlights the social dimensions of infrastructure development. Rehabilitation and compensation for displaced families are important components alongside construction and irrigation benefits. This makes the project relevant to questions concerning inclusive development and rehabilitation and resettlement.
The demand for diverting Krishna River water towards drought-prone areas of the region has a history extending back several decades. Former Markapuram MLA Poola Subbaiah played an important role in raising the demand for water diversion during the late 1970s. The project was subsequently conceptualised through technical studies during the late 1980s.
N. Chandrababu Naidu laid the first bhoomi puja for the project at Gottipadiya on March 5, 1996. Construction and project development subsequently faced various delays, funding constraints and difficult tunnelling conditions. The project eventually emerged as a major long-term irrigation initiative for drought-affected areas.
The Veligonda Project required the construction of long tunnels through the Nallamala hills and the development of the Nallamala Sagar reservoir. Difficult geological formations complicated tunnelling, while the submergence of villages created rehabilitation and compensation requirements for affected families.
The inauguration of Phase-I in August 2026 represents a major milestone after decades of planning and construction. The first phase is intended to store 10.70 TMC of Krishna water, irrigate approximately 1.19 lakh acres and provide drinking water to about four lakh people. The Andhra Pradesh government has also announced plans to complete Phase-II by 2028.
The Poola Subbaiah Veligonda Irrigation Project is a major irrigation and drinking-water project in Andhra Pradesh. It aims to divert Krishna River water to drought-prone areas through a gravity-based water-transfer system.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu inaugurated Phase-I of the project on 31 August 2026.
Water is diverted from the Srisailam Reservoir on the Krishna River system towards the Nallamala Sagar reservoir.
The project primarily uses Krishna River water, with the broader project designed to divert approximately 43.50 TMC of water.
Phase-I is designed to store approximately 10.70 TMC of Krishna River water in the Nallamala Sagar reservoir.
Phase-I is expected to provide irrigation facilities to approximately 1.19 lakh acres of agricultural land.
The project is expected to provide drinking water to approximately 4 lakh people in drought-affected areas.
The project features twin tunnels constructed beneath the Nallamala hills. The tunnels facilitate the gravity-based transfer of water.
Tunnel-I is approximately 18.82 km long, while Tunnel-II is approximately 18.787 km long.
The project is relevant to questions on Indian geography, irrigation, river-water management, infrastructure, agriculture, Andhra Pradesh, and major government development projects. Aspirants should particularly remember the Krishna River, Srisailam Reservoir, Nallamala hills and Nallamala Sagar.
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