Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is holding a review meeting on the Purvodaya scheme on Tuesday.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu directed the officials to speedily prepare project proposals to utilize the funds expected under the Purvodaya scheme for the integrated development of all the three regions of Andhra Pradesh.
Addressing a review meeting on irrigation and Purvodaya-related proposals on Tuesday, the chief minister said funds must be strategically targeted for irrigation projects, horticulture crop extension and rural infrastructure, including road connectivity. He asked the administration to form 82 horticulture clusters in Prakasam and Rayalaseema district to expand horticulture to 20 lakh acres.
Mr. Naidu proposed to prepare project proposals worth ₹40,000 crore under the scheme, with ₹20,000 crore earmarked for irrigation and ₹20,000 crore for infrastructure, including ₹5,000 crore for new rural roads to connect villages to national and state highways. He also asked officials to prioritize the completion of 23 major and medium irrigation projects and 1,021 reservoirs in Prakasam and Rayalaseema to ensure water supply for horticultural crops.
The meeting reviewed the proposed ₹58,700 crore Polavaram-Nallamala Sagar Interlinking Project, which is expected to provide irrigation to 7 million new acres and stabilize water supply to another 6 million acres while providing drinking water to 60 million people in Nellore and Prakasam districts. Officials said the project would additionally release 20 TMC of water for industrial use.
The Chief Minister ordered immediate steps to initiate implementation and study the feasibility of diverting 200 TMC of Godavari flood waters to Bollapalli and Nallamala Sagar and 50 TMC of Krishna waters from Nagarjuna Sagar to Bollapalli.
He called for faster progress on irrigation projects in North Andhra and directed officials to prepare proposals worth ₹5,000 crore to complete the pending works. He noted that the region is suitable for the cultivation of oil palm and other horticultural crops, stressing the need to promote natural and organic farming in the agency’s areas.
He also directed action on the ₹169 crore project to link the Vamsadhara, Nagavali and Champavati rivers. Integration of the Hiramandalam reservoir and the Narayanapuram dam would enable irrigation of an additional 5,000 acres, he said.
The review was attended by Finance Minister Payyavula Keshav, Water Resources Minister Nimmala Rama Naidu and senior officials of various ministries.
Published – 09 Dec 2025 20:38 IST
