Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Monday said interlinking the Godavari and Cauvery rivers could help address drought conditions across southern states. Speaking while launching the Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 and Amarajeevi Jaladhara programmes in Proddatur in Kadapa district, Naidu said large quantities of Godavari water continue to flow into the sea even during drought conditions. He said greater utilisation of the river’s floodwater could significantly benefit water-stressed regions.

Naidu said that if at least 200 TMC of Godavari floodwater could be utilised, the Rayalaseema region would benefit through improved water availability for agriculture and increased greenery. He also recalled the interlinking of the Godavari and Krishna rivers, stating that his government had undertaken the project. The Chief Minister also reiterated his intention to complete the Polavaram project before the next Godavari Pushkaram and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi would dedicate the project to the nation.

The Chief Minister said 36 irrigation projects with a combined estimated cost of Rs 35,000 crore would be launched over the next three years. He added that the government had already released a schedule for completing the projects. Naidu said the irrigation initiatives were part of broader efforts to strengthen water availability and support agricultural development across Andhra Pradesh.

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Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, along with state BJP president PVN Madhav, also laid the foundation for the Jal Jeevan Mission and Amarajeevi Jaladhara programmes, with an outlay of Rs 30,136 crore. The initiatives are aimed at providing tap water connections to households across the state. Naidu said the government was working to extend water access to 90 lakh households, 48,000 rural areas and around 3.30 crore people.

The Chief Minister also spoke about the government's broader rural development plans and criticised the previous YSR Congress Party government over the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission in Andhra Pradesh. He claimed that the state had received only Rs 2,600 crore under the programme during the previous government, compared with larger allocations cited for several other states. He also highlighted infrastructure works under the Palle Panduga initiative, including roads, drains and streetlights in villages.

Naidu said the government was working towards providing a house to every family by 2029 and had set a target of constructing 19 lakh houses. He also referred to housing-site title deeds distributed across the state and a proposed Global Horticulture Hub in Rayalaseema. The water, irrigation, housing and rural infrastructure initiatives form part of the state government's broader development programme, with the proposed Godavari-Cauvery interlinking presented by Naidu as a long-term measure to improve water availability in the southern region.

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