Andhra CM warns officials of cyclone in Bay of Bengal

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. File | Photo credit: ANI

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has directed officials to be alert and take precautionary measures in view of the likelihood of heavy rains under the influence of a cyclone developing in the Bay of Bengal.

He instructed them to make efficient use of rainfall in coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema districts by filling reservoirs and irrigation tanks.

In a review meeting with Water Resources Department (WRD) officials at his office on Friday (October 23, 2026) evening, Mr. Chandrababu Naidu called for the implementation of a comprehensive action plan covering flood control, water management and disaster management.

He told officials to ensure maximum benefits to farmers by preventing wastage of rainwater, conserving available water and managing irrigation resources effectively and directed that work on the Chintalapudi irrigation project be resumed next month.

The CM directed the WRD to complete the construction of 36 identified priority projects as per the prescribed targets and prepare an action plan to commission all the projects by December 2028. He said the government’s aim is to provide piped water to every household and irrigation water to every acre.

He stressed the need to strengthen the existing canal network and increase water storage capacity and suggested that plans be made to install solar panels along the canals to generate electricity.

Further, Mr. Chandrababu Naidu made it clear that there should be no compromise on technical standards in the construction of the Polavaram project and called for completion of Polavaram right and left main canals by March 2027.

Officials informed the CM that 90.20% construction work of the Polavaram project has been completed and the work on Gap-1 and Gap-2 of the main rockfall dam is progressing at a brisk pace.

He told the officials to initiate an action plan to link Godavari and Penna rivers and divert water from Godavari to Cauvery. He also asked them to examine the feasibility of constructing barrages at Vaikuntapuram and Chodavaram, upstream and downstream of Prakasam barrage to store 14 TMC feet of water.

He also proposed the development of a navigation system for inland water transport from Bhadrachalam to Visakhapatnam via Rajamahendravaram and Vijayawada.

Published – 24 Oct 2026 11:36 IST