Polavaram–Nallamalla Sagar link won’t harm Telangana, says CM Naidu

Amaravati: Amid the ongoing water-sharing dispute with Telangana, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Monday strongly defended the proposed Polavaram–Nallamalla Sagar link project.

He asserted that the water project would not cause harm to any state and would instead ensure optimal utilisation of river waters.

‘Andhra Pradesh never objected to Telangana’s projects’

Addressing a meeting of ministers and senior officials at the Secretariat, the Chief Minister questioned objections to diverting surplus water released upstream in the Godavari at Polavaram towards Nallamalla Sagar.

He pointed out that Andhra Pradesh never objected when Telangana undertook its own irrigation projects and stressed that both Telugu states could efficiently utilise the Godavari waters for mutual benefit.

Polavaram to be completed before Godavari Pushkarams

CM Naidu said the Polavaram Project would be completed and dedicated to the nation before the next Godavari Pushkaram.

Describing Polavaram as a ‘magnificent project,’ he asserted that once completed, Andhra Pradesh would emerge as the most competitive state in South India in terms of water resources and agricultural potential.

Using surplus water for drought-prone regions

The Chief Minister noted that nearly 3,000 TMC of water flows wastefully into the sea every year. By diverting Godavari waters to the Krishna delta through Pattiseema, he said, water is being conserved at Srisailam and supplied to Rayalaseema.

He added that the proposed Nallamalla Sagar project would further enable irrigation and drinking water supply to Rayalaseema, Prakasam and other regions, while also creating opportunities for Telangana to utilise surplus water from Polavaram.

Centre extended Rs 12,000 crore for Vizag Steel Plant

CM Naidu also announced that the Bhogapuram International Airport would soon be dedicated to the nation.

He also stated that the coalition government, with the support of the Centre, had safeguarded the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant by extending financial assistance of Rs 12,000 crore.

“Visakhapatnam Steel Plant is a deep-rooted sentiment for the people of Andhra Pradesh, and we will protect it at all costs,” he said.

Investment boom and job creation

Highlighting the state’s economic performance, the Chief Minister revealed that Andhra Pradesh attracted 25 per cent of the total foreign direct investment received by India in the current financial year.

He said that if all investment agreements signed through the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) materialise, they would generate around 16 lakh jobs.

Additionally, investments worth Rs 8.74 lakh crore have been approved by the State Investment Promotion Board, which are expected to create large-scale employment opportunities.

Google AI Data Centre and Quantum Valley

CM Naidu disclosed that Google is setting up an AI data centre in Visakhapatnam with an investment of $15 billion.

He further announced that the foundation for the proposed Quantum Valley in Amaravati would be laid soon, with a quantum computer expected to become operational within six months.

‘Surplus Godavari water otherwise flows into sea’

Telugu states should grow together in a spirit of brotherhood, Water Resources Minister Nimmala Ramanaidu said on Monday, urging the Telangana government not to raise objections to the Polavaram–Nallamalla Sagar link project.

The minister pointed out that nearly 4,600 TMC of Godavari water flowed into the sea this year alone and said that unless floodwaters are utilised at Polavaram Project, they would continue to go waste. He recalled that Andhra Pradesh never objected to the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project, acknowledging that the Godavari has abundant water.

‘Polavaram–Nallamalla Sagar project will benefit Telangana too’

Ramanaidu asserted that the Polavaram–Nallamalla Sagar project would also benefit Telangana, clarifying that Andhra Pradesh plans to use only about 200 TMC out of the nearly 3,000 TMC of surplus water that otherwise merges into the sea.

“If water remains after meeting Andhra Pradesh’s needs, Telangana too can utilise it,” he said, reiterating that the project would not cause any loss to the neighbouring state. He added that over the past 50 years, as much as 1.53 lakh TMC of Godavari water had flowed unutilised into the sea.