Minister of Transport Mandipalli Ramprasad Reddy on Sunday (September 6, 2026) released water into the right canal of the Veligallu project at Galiveedu mandal in Annamayya district. He said the government was prioritising drinking water, livestock needs, and groundwater recharge amid concerns over water availability.
Speaking to the media, the Minister said that 120 cusecs were being released initially, and after a fortnight the discharge would be regulated at 80 cusecs. He said around 0.5 TMC of water had been earmarked for use until the end of October. The administration was also working on a plan to replenish a similar quantity through the Handri-Neeva project, he said.
Mr. Ramprasad Reddy said the district officials would limit the filling of tanks to 30 per cent, in line with the Collector’s directions, and would not release water beyond essential requirements. He asked farmers not to depend on Veligallu water for water-intensive crops and instead opt for dryland crops, citing the possibility of drought because of El Niño conditions.
“Farmers should not cultivate crops depending on Veligallu project water and must give priority only to dryland crops,” he said, asking them to conserve water to avoid drinking water shortages till the onset of the monsoon next year.
“The government is seriously considering that crop insurance compensation would be facilitated in cases where crops suffered losses due to water scarcity. Irrigation officials should ensure efficient distribution through canals and tanks and monitor water flow,” the Minister said.
Senior officials of the Handri-Neeva Sujala Sravanthi, the irrigation department and the Veligallu project were present.
