Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday declared that Andhra Pradesh, once known as a hub of farmer suicides, was being transformed into a farmer-friendly State through sustained water management and irrigation reforms.
Addressing a large gathering at the Water Users' Associations (WUAs) meeting held near the State Secretariat in Amaravati, he said water security was essential for everyone, but water conservation was still not receiving the attention it deserved.
Recalling past conditions, the Chief Minister said even natural springs in Rayalaseema once had abundant water, and asserted that former Chief Minister N.T. Rama Rao had envisioned converting the rocky region into a land of prosperity through major irrigation projects. He noted that projects such as Handri-Neeva, Galeru-Nagari and Telugu Ganga materialised due to the initiative of the TDP, with Telugu Ganga not only greening Rayalaseema but also quenching Chennai’s thirst. Stressing that water disputes between regions and States had become common, he cited the Cauvery issue as an example.
Mr. Naidu said his government had launched an extensive recharge pit programme to turn land itself into a water reservoir, improving groundwater levels. He pointed out that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had specially mentioned Anantapur’s water conservation efforts in Mann Ki Baat programme. With 10 lakh recharge pits and micro-irrigation systems, the government was optimising water use and had transformed Anantapur from a drought-prone district into a hub of orchards, moving towards becoming a horticulture hub. If the water of the State’s rivers was used efficiently, drought could be eliminated, he said, urging WUA representatives to ensure water supply to every acre.
