Naidu Urges Centre Backing for Polavaram-Banakacherla Link in Andhra Pradesh

Quick Summary

• Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu appealed too Union Home Minister Amit shah for support towards the Polavaram-Banakacherla interlinking project during his visit to new Delhi.
• The project aims to divert 200 tmc ft of surplus floodwater from Polavaram reservoir to Banakacherla regulator in Kurnool district, addressing water scarcity in Rayalaseema and supporting irrigation and drinking water needs.
• mr.Naidu emphasised Andhra Pradesh’s rights over the surplus Godavari waters as a tail-end state, requesting the Center’s assistance for this inter-basin transfer initiative.
• The Chief Minister thanked the Centre for appointing senior TDP leader Ashok Gajapathi raju as Governor and sought further financial aid from the 16th Finance Commission due to losses arising from state bifurcation.
• Discussions on aerospace and defense industries were held with NITI Aayog member V.K. Saraswat, while collaboration opportunities on metro rail projects in Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada were explored with delhi Metro MD vikas Kumar.

Indian Opinion Analysis
the Polavaram-Banakacherla interlinking project spearheaded by CM Chandrababu Naidu highlights the persistent challenges of water scarcity in drought-prone regions like Rayalaseema. Efficient use of surplus floodwaters aligns with broader goals of sustainable water management but requires notable financial outlay and federal cooperation due to its cross-basin implications.

The outreach to national stakeholders reflects proactive governance aiming at long-term regional advancement,encompassing infrastructure (metro rail) alongside strategic industries (aerospace/defence). However, Andhra Pradesh’s fiscal reliance on central assistance raises questions about how effectively intergovernmental coordination can address legacy issues such as post-bifurcation economic disparities.

Targeted interventions like these underline critical priorities for equitable resource distribution-a recurring theme across india’s federal system that often pits resource-rich states against tail-end beneficiaries like Andhra Pradesh.

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