Andhra government to allocate funds for Neradi barrage on Vamsadhara river

The Andhra Pradesh government is likely to make a significant allocation in the state's annual budget for the upcoming year 2027-28 for the construction of the Neradi barrage on the Vamsadhara river. Through this project, dedicated water facilities will be ensured for approximately 2.56 lakh acres of land in the Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh. This region has waited for nearly 55 years to resolve the water dispute with the neighbouring state of Odisha.

Aravala Ravindrababu, Chairman of the BRR Vamsadhara Project, stated in a statement given to The Hindu that the state government had granted administrative approval of ₹461 crore two months ago and additional approval may be received in the upcoming budget. He added that upon the request of Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is keen to complete the Neradi barrage within two years. As a first step, administrative approval has been granted to meet compensation for land acquisition and other requirements.

The Andhra Pradesh government had proposed this project six days ago to ensure the best use of the Vamsadhara river water. The Vamsadhara river flows 154 km from its origin in the Kalahandi district of the neighbouring state of Odisha and subsequently flows for about 82 km in the Srikakulam district. Previously, this project was not undertaken as it required the acquisition of 106 acres of land in Odisha.

The Vamsadhara Water Disputes Tribunal, constituted to oversee this issue, had instructed Andhra Pradesh to pay compensation for land in Odisha and undertake the construction of the project. Although this order was passed in the year 2021, the Union Ministry of Water Resources had not granted approval for this project until the intervention of Chandrababu Naidu and Rammohan Naidu. As a notification was recently issued by the Central Government, Andhra Pradesh is now ready to commence this project.

Approximately ₹1,099 crore may be required for this project. The initial allocation of ₹461 crore will complete the land acquisition process and commence operations. Ravindrababu stated that this project will help farmers of several mandals, including Bhamini, Amudalavalasa, Srikakulam, and Narasannapeta, to take three crops in a year.