Reviving Hope: Andhra’s Veligonda Water Project Gets a New Lease of Life

On August 31, 2026, a wave of excitement rippled through the rugged Nallamala hills when Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu pressed the valve and let Krishna water surge into the newly‑filled Nallamalasagar reservoir. The sight of water gushing through twin tunnels and a feeder canal felt almost cinematic for the locals, many of whom have spent a lifetime staring at cracked earth.

That moment was more than a ceremony; it was the culmination of a dream that began almost four decades ago. The Poola Subbaiah Veligonda Project (PSVP) was conceived as a permanent answer to chronic drought, dwindling groundwater and, perhaps most painfully, fluoride‑laden wells that made drinking water a health hazard. Villagers had been battling water scarcity and fluorosis for generations, so the promise of a reliable source of both irrigation and safe drinking water struck a deeply emotional chord.

What exactly does the project entail? In simple terms, engineers are diverting up to 43.5 TMC of Krishna floodwater from the Srisailam Reservoir’s foreshore, guiding it through the Kollam Vagu stream, and then carving a path across the Nallamala hills. The water fills Nallamalasagar – a reservoir created by sealing three gaps (Sunkesula, Gottipadia and Kakarla) in the hills – which boasts a gross storage capacity of 53.85 TMC, of which 43.5 TMC is live storage ready for use.

The numbers are staggering. The revised cost of the whole scheme now stands at roughly ₹10,790 crore, and about ₹7,607 crore has already been spent. That’s a massive financial commitment, but the payoff could be transformative: an irrigation network stretching across four districts and 30 mandals, plus expanded drinking‑water schemes for the most drought‑prone pockets.

For many farmers, the news feels like a breath of fresh air after years of watching crops wither. “We’ve been waiting for this day since I was a boy,” says one elder from Markapuram, his voice trembling with both relief and a hint of disbelief. Nearby, schoolchildren gaze at the shimmering surface of Nallamalasagar, their imaginations suddenly filling with images of green fields and flowing taps.

Yet, the project is not without its challenges. Critics point out the environmental impact of diverting river water and the need for careful management to avoid over‑reliance on a single source. Local activists have called for transparent monitoring of water quality, especially given the region’s history of fluoride contamination. The government, meanwhile, assures that groundwater recharge modules are built into the design, hoping to raise the water table and gradually dilute fluoride concentrations.

In the end, the revival of the Veligonda project is as much about restoring faith as it is about engineering feats. As Naidu stood at the reservoir’s edge, wiping a bead of sweat from his brow, he whispered, “I have kept my promise.” Whether that promise will fully materialise remains to be seen, but for now, hope does indeed flow anew across the hills of Andhra Pradesh.