Markapuram: Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on Monday launched Phase-1 of the Pool Subbaiah Veligonda Project during a visit to Markapuram district, marking the completion of the first stage of a scheme he originally laid the foundation stone for in 1996 — exactly three decades ago.
The Veligonda Project aims to divert Krishna river flood waters to drought-hit western parts of Prakasam district, including Markapuram, Giddalur, Kanigiri and Yerragondapalem, where groundwater is scarce and often contaminated with fluoride. Feasibility studies began in 1991, with the first Detailed Project Report prepared in 1994, before Naidu laid the foundation stone on March 5, 1996. Major construction work gained momentum only after 2005 and continued under successive governments.
The project draws water from Kollamvagu, in the backwaters of the Srisailam Reservoir, and channels it through two tunnels — each around 18.8 km long — cut through the Nallamala hills, before reaching the Nallamalasagar Reservoir. Construction faced repeated geological setbacks, including a tunnel boring machine getting stuck inside Tunnel-1.
The full project envisages bringing 43.5 TMC of water to the 53.85-TMC-capacity Nallamalasagar Reservoir, irrigating about 4.47 lakh acres across Prakasam, Nellore and Kadapa districts. Phase-1 alone will store 10.70 TMC, irrigate roughly 1.19 lakh acres, and supply drinking water to nearly 4 lakh people. The government said compensation and rehabilitation packages have been extended to thousands of families displaced by the submergence of around 11 villages, though questions remain over livelihoods, schooling and healthcare at resettlement sites.
The launch has triggered a political credit war. The TDP has framed the inauguration as the fulfilment of Naidu’s 1996 vision, while the YSRCP contends that only the foundation stone was laid during his earlier tenure, crediting the late YS Rajasekhara Reddy’s government with accelerating tunnel construction. A CAG report has previously flagged concerns over the project’s planning, implementation and financial management. With Phase-1 complete, attention now turns to whether irrigation reaches the promised acreage, rehabilitation is finalised, and Phase-2 is completed on schedule.