Polavaram-Banakacherla project DPR being readied for submission to Centre: Naidu

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu chairing a Cabinet meeting at the Secretariat at Velagapudi near Vijayawada on Wednesday. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu outlined the importance of the construction of the Polavaram-Banakacherla Irrigation Project with the Council of Ministers during a meeting held at the Secretariat in Amaravati on Wednesday. 

Mr. Naidu said that the project would cost an estimated ₹82,000 crore, for which the State government was preparing to submit the Detailed Project Report (DPR) to the Centre. This project would provide water for drinking, irrigation and industrial needs of the drought-prone Rayalaseema.  

The State government has almost finalised a financial model for the project, in coordination with the Centre.

Minister for Information and Public Relations Kolusu Parthasarathy said that the State government had proposed to raise funds for the project from different sources, including 50% of funds in the form of loans under Externally Aided Projects (EAPs), 20% from the Centre, 10% from State government and the rest 20% under Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM).   

The Chief Minister also discussed the financial burden on the State exchequer for the welfare schemes such as Talliki Vandanam, aimed at providing annual financial assistance for schoolchildren. Mr. Naidu said that the Annadata Sukhibhavascheme is likely to be launched this month for the benefit of the farmers. 

Mr. Naidu asked the Cabinet Ministers to ensure a grand success of the Yoga Day by encouraging more participants. On the other hand, the Ministers and Mr. Naidu opined to postpone the celebrations of one-year completion of the NDA government in Andhra Pradesh due to various other programmes scheduled for this month.

Published - June 05, 2025 08:20 am IST