Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Thursday and made a strong pitch for creating a national water grid through river interlinking, flagging drought conditions in his state caused by the El Nino effect.
Naidu, whose Telugu Desam Party provides crucial support to the BJP-led government with its 16 MPs, briefed the Prime Minister on Andhra Pradesh's 53 per cent deficit in rainfall, which has severely affected the agriculture sector, and sought the Centre's support for relief and major infrastructure projects.
Five rivers, four states
Naidu told Modi that a river interlinking project would ensure adequate water availability for the southern states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Addressing a curtain-raiser event earlier for next month's investor summit in Visakhapatnam, he said linking five rivers — Godavari, Krishna, Tungabhadra, Penna and Cauvery — across four states would resolve the region's water problems.
"If we link five rivers — Godavari, Krishna, Tungabhadra, Penna and Cauvery — across four states, all problems will be sorted out," Naidu said, adding that inter-state "water wars" were holding back development.
He argued that just as road networks and power grids had been developed across the country under NDA governments, river-linking could pave the way for a national water grid.
Polavaram, Vizag Metro and Pushkarams on the agenda
The Chief Minister briefed the Prime Minister on the latest status of the Polavaram project and assured him it would be inaugurated in March 2027. He also sought the Centre's approval for the Visakhapatnam Metro, support for the proposed Beach Road project and the Amaravati Outer Ring Road, and financial assistance for the development works being taken up for the Godavari Pushkarams in 2027.
Naidu also met Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil to review the Polavaram works and discuss measures to utilise floodwater from the Godavari that flows into the sea, along with the proposed river-linking initiatives.
Sources:
Chandrababu Naidu meets PM Modi, seeks national water grid by interlinking rivers — The Economic Times
CM Naidu Seeks Central Aid for Pushkarams, Major AP Projects — Deccan Chronicle
Naidu, whose Telugu Desam Party provides crucial support to the BJP-led government with its 16 MPs, briefed the Prime Minister on Andhra Pradesh's 53 per cent deficit in rainfall, which has severely affected the agriculture sector, and sought the Centre's support for relief and major infrastructure projects.
Five rivers, four states
Naidu told Modi that a river interlinking project would ensure adequate water availability for the southern states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Addressing a curtain-raiser event earlier for next month's investor summit in Visakhapatnam, he said linking five rivers — Godavari, Krishna, Tungabhadra, Penna and Cauvery — across four states would resolve the region's water problems.
"If we link five rivers — Godavari, Krishna, Tungabhadra, Penna and Cauvery — across four states, all problems will be sorted out," Naidu said, adding that inter-state "water wars" were holding back development.
He argued that just as road networks and power grids had been developed across the country under NDA governments, river-linking could pave the way for a national water grid.
Polavaram, Vizag Metro and Pushkarams on the agenda
The Chief Minister briefed the Prime Minister on the latest status of the Polavaram project and assured him it would be inaugurated in March 2027. He also sought the Centre's approval for the Visakhapatnam Metro, support for the proposed Beach Road project and the Amaravati Outer Ring Road, and financial assistance for the development works being taken up for the Godavari Pushkarams in 2027.
Naidu also met Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil to review the Polavaram works and discuss measures to utilise floodwater from the Godavari that flows into the sea, along with the proposed river-linking initiatives.
Sources:
Chandrababu Naidu meets PM Modi, seeks national water grid by interlinking rivers — The Economic Times
CM Naidu Seeks Central Aid for Pushkarams, Major AP Projects — Deccan Chronicle
