In a significant move to address the growing drinking water and industrial needs of North Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Godavari river waters are set to be channelled into the region through the Polavaram Left Canal on September 2, 2026. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu will formally mark the occasion by performing ‘Jala Harathi’ at Sitarampuram in Payakaraopeta mandal of Anakapalli district.However, irrigation officials clarified that the release of water does not indicate the completion of the main Polavaram irrigation project, where construction on the dam and headworks remains ongoing. Instead, the government is utilising existing pump arrangements and completed stretches of the left canal network to draw and divert river water to meet pressing regional demand.“Yes, the release of water does not indicate the completion of the main Polavaram irrigation project,” an irrigation official said.The State government aims to store and distribute up to 27,000 million cubic feet (TMC) of water across various storage points in the Visakhapatnam region. The strategy seeks to capture seasonal flows that would otherwise drain into the sea and channel them into local water bodies for long-term supply management.“Out of the allocated 27 TMC, approximately 5 TMC will be diverted to the Kanithi Balancing Reservoir located within the premises of the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant,” said an irrigation official.The remaining 22 TMC will be distributed across a network of local storage facilities and natural tanks, including Penjeruvu, Krishnampalem, Kondakarla Ava, and Gopalapatnam Ava.“The diversion of Godavari water will bolster long-term water security for Visakhapatnam, which is experiencing rapid urbanisation and industrial expansion,” said the official.To integrate these inflows with the city’s municipal network, construction of a major connecting pipeline from Kanithi to Narava is underway, with completion targeted for March, 2027. Once operational, the link will facilitate the transfer of surplus water to the Meghadrigedda reservoir, providing greater operational flexibility to the urban supply grid. Published - August 31, 2026 09:04 pm IST