PIPLMC completed, river-linking proposals prepared

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The AP State Water Resources Department has completed the Polavaram Irrigation Project Left Main Canal (PIPLMC) and prepared crucial proposals for interlinking Godavari water to the Thandava, Varaha, and Sarada rivers in north coastal Andhra Pradesh.

The canal originates at Nelakota in Polavaram district and runs for 213.409 km across multiple districts before reaching Meghadri Gedda Reservoir in Visakhapatnam, aiming to strengthen drinking and irrigation water supplies.

The project traces its renewed momentum to the directions given by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu during his visit to Darlapudi village in Anakapalli district on July 11, 2024, where he instructed officials to supply 23.44 TMC of water to Visakhapatnam city and Anakapalli addressing the rural and irrigation needs enroute.

The main canal and its distribution network will cater to an ayacut of about 1.5 lakh acres, directly benefiting 204 villages in Nakkapalli, S. Rayavaram, Payakaraopeta, Yelamanchili, Rambilli, Kasimkota, and Anakapalli mandals.

In the first phase, the project will supply water by gravity to 56 minor irrigation tanks—24 through the Thandava River, 27 through the Varaha River, and 5 through the Sarada River—stabilising 13,927.57 acres. Additionally, another 26 open head channels covering 43,412.79 acres will also receive water.

The project will also supply drinking water to 290 villages beyond Tuni, for a population of 4 lakh people.

Engineering interventions include diverting 325 cusecs near Tuni to stabilise 14,795.15 acres via the Thandava system, releasing 586 cusecs into the Varaha river basin to secure 26,652.63 acres, and channelling 350 cusecs through the Mamidiwaka Gedda to support the Sarada river network.

Officials emphasised that the interlinking framework will optimise upper riparian water usage, mitigate the adverse agricultural impacts of deficient rainfall and El Niño years, and provide long-term water security.

Speaking to The Hindu , Water Resources Superintending Engineer for Visakhapatnam Circle of four districts, P. Appala Naidu said, “The interlinking of the PIPLMC with minor irrigation sources and open head channels ensures maximum resource utilisation, providing a reliable safety net for farmers against erratic weather patterns.”

On September 2, 2026, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu will formally release Godavari River water through the PIPLMC to the Anakapalli and Visakhapatnam districts, as part of the ‘Jala Harathi’ programme at Payakraopeta constituency in Anakapalli district marking a major milestone in regional water resource management, he added.

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