Andhra Pradesh has stepped up work on an ambitious drinking water project aimed at addressing water shortages across several Godavari-region districts.

The ₹3,050-crore Godavari Water Grid Project, named ‘Amarajeevi Jaladhara’, is being developed to supply filtered Godavari river water to more than 58 lakh people across Kakinada, Konaseema, East Godavari and West Godavari districts. The project is targeted for completion by March 2027, ahead of the Godavari Pushkaralu.

Over 500 km of pipelines

The project involves laying more than 500 kilometres of pipelines, along with the construction of water treatment plants and overhead water tanks at required locations.

Of the total investment, around ₹1,650 crore has been earmarked for Kakinada and Konaseema districts, while another ₹1,400 crore will be spent in West Godavari and Eluru districts.

In Konaseema, an overhead tank is planned at Vasanthavada, with Godavari water to be pumped from Bobbarlanka. After treatment, the water is expected to reach 458 villages.

Another overhead tank is planned at Dowleswaram, from where treated water will be supplied to 234 villages in Kakinada district through Anaparthi and Bikkavolu.

West Godavari to get major share

The West Godavari component is designed to supply around 1.86 TMC of purified water to 24.15 lakh people across 931 villages by 2057.

The network will cover several mandals, including Achanta, Penugonda, Penumantra, Narsapuram, Mogaltur, Nidadavole, Peravali, Undrajavaram, Palakollu, Tanuku, Bhimavaram and others. A water treatment plant is also planned at Kovvuru.

Land acquisition and road issues remain

While construction is progressing, authorities still need to address certain challenges, including land acquisition and road congestion in some areas.

The Rural Water Supply department has already acquired land at Vasanthavada and Madduru for the construction of water treatment plants and overhead tanks. Officials said project works are being closely monitored to maintain quality standards.

Centre and state to share funding

The project is being implemented under the Jal Jeevan Mission, with the Centre and Andhra Pradesh government contributing 50 per cent each towards the funding.

Regional legislators have also urged the state government to prevent industries from discharging untreated effluents into the Godavari. Officials and local representatives say controlling pollution would help ensure better-quality raw water for the new drinking water network.

Until pollution-control infrastructure is established, residents will receive treated and filtered Godavari water through the project.