**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to Starred Question No. *79 in Lok Sabha on December 4, 2025, regarding river-linking projects involving Andhra Pradesh. It provides details on the status of various projects under the National Perspective Plan (NPP), including project components, approvals, funding, timelines, and benefits. A statement is laid on the Table of the House with further details given at Annexure.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **National Perspective Plan (NPP):**
* The Government of India has formulated the NPP, which includes 30 Interlinking of Rivers (ILR) projects to address water scarcity.
* 7 ILR projects involve Andhra Pradesh. Details are in the Annexure.
* The National Water Development Agency (NWDA) is responsible for implementing ILR projects under the NPP.
* **Godavari (Polavaram)–Krishna (Vijayawada) Link Project:**
* It is a link under the Peninsular Component of the National Perspective Plan (1980).
* The Detailed Project Report (DPR) was approved in 2009 for diverting 4666 MCM through the Right Main Canal.
* The link is now part of the Polavaram Irrigation National Project under the Polavaram Project Authority (PPA) after the Andhra Pradesh Re-organization Act, 2014.
* Water connectivity is established, and temporary operation is in place via lift arrangements.
* **Polavaram Irrigation Project (PIP):**
* PIP, including the Godavari-Krishna Link, is being implemented in Andhra Pradesh with financial support from the Government of India.
* Between 2014 and 2024, ₹15,146 crore was reimbursed to the State Government.
* The Government of India approved the Revised Cost Estimate of ₹30,436 crore with an additional ₹12,157 crore central assistance.
* Cumulative Central Assistance for PIP totals ₹20,658 crore to date.
* **Polavaram-Banakacherla Link Project:**
* Andhra Pradesh has submitted a Pre-Feasibility Report (PFR) for this project.
* The PFR envisages transferring floodwaters from the Polavaram Dam to the Banakacherla Regulator.
* Estimated cost: ₹81,900 crore.
* The PFR was submitted to the Central Water Commission (CWC) on 22 May 2022 for techno-economic appraisal and forwarded to Krishna River Management Board (KRMB), Godavari River Management Board (GRMB), Polavaram Project Authority (PPA) Hyderabad, and the co-basin states like Telangana, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh for their views/comments.
* **Annexure Information:**
* The Annexure provides details on various ILR projects involving Andhra Pradesh, including states benefitted, annual irrigation potential, domestic & industrial water MCM, hydro power MW, and project status.
**Impact Analysis**
**Government of India, Ministry of Jal Shakti**
* **Impact:** Required to provide financial support, approvals, and oversight for river-linking projects, particularly the Polavaram Irrigation Project, and address water scarcity and augmentation of irrigation facilities across the country
* **Action Required:** Continue to provide financial assistance, review project proposals, and coordinate with various states and authorities for the successful implementation of the projects.
**Government of Andhra Pradesh**
* **Impact:** Directly benefits from the river-linking projects through increased irrigation potential, water supply, and flood mitigation, and responsible for overseeing project implementation.
* **Action Required:** Continue to implement and manage projects like the Polavaram Irrigation Project and coordinate with the Central Government and other states to facilitate the timely completion and operation of the projects.
**Krishna River Management Board (KRMB), Godavari River Management Board (GRMB), Polavaram Project Authority (PPA) Hyderabad, and co-basin states**
* **Impact:** Involved in the technical and economic appraisal of river-linking projects and need to provide feedback on proposals like the Polavaram-Banakacherla Link Project.
* **Action Required:** Review the Pre-Feasibility Report (PFR) for the Polavaram-Banakacherla Link Project and provide their views/comments to the Central Water Commission (CWC).
Key Entities Referenced
River Linking Projects: The main subject of the document, referring to projects that aim to connect rivers to address water scarcity and augment irrigation facilities, specifically in the context of Andhra Pradesh.
Ministry of Jal Shakti: The primary government body responsible for addressing the questions related to the river linking projects.
Andhra Pradesh: The Indian state to which the river linking projects specifically apply.
National Perspective Plan (NPP): A plan formulated by the Government of India under which the Interlinking of Rivers (ILR) projects have been identified.
Central Water Commission (CWC): An important governmental organization to which the Detailed Project Reports and Pre-Feasibility Reports related to river linking projects are submitted for techno-economic appraisal.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI
DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. *79
ANSWERED ON 04.12.2025
RIVER LINKING PROJECTS INVOLVING ANDHRA PRADESH
*79. SHRI APPALANAIDU KALISETTI:
Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:
(a) the details of river-linking projects involving Andhra Pradesh including the names of rivers project
components, Detailed Project Report (DPR) status, approval status and the present stage of implementation,
project-wise;
(b) the funds approved, allocated, released and utilised for each such project during the last five years, year-
wise along with the share of the Union Government and the State Government therein;
(c) the timelines originally approved for each project, any revisions made and the reasons for delays, if any,
including administrative, financial, land acquisition, environmental clearance or inter-State coordination
issues;
(d) the expected quantitative benefits of these projects for Andhra Pradesh including creation of additional
irrigation potential, planned drinking water supply, flood-moderation and the number of districts expected to
benefit therefrom; and
(e) whether the Government has received any pending, revised or new proposals or DPRs from Andhra
Pradesh for additional river-linking projects and if so, the details thereof along with the current appraisal and
approval status of each such proposal?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF JAL SHAKTI
(SHRI C R PAATIL)
(a) to (e) : A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
1STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF STARRED QUESTION NO.
*79 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.12.2025 IN LOK SABHA REGARDING “RIVER LINKING
PROJECTS INVOLVING ANDHRA PRADESH”
(a) The Government of India has formulated the National Perspective Plan (NPP) under which 30
Interlinking of Rivers (ILR) projects have been identified to address water scarcity and augment irrigation
facilities across the country. The National Water Development Agency (NWDA) has been entrusted with
implementing the ILR projects under the NPP. There are 7 ILR projects involving the State of Andhra
Pradesh, details of which are provided at Annexure.
Among these, the Godavari (Polavaram)–Krishna (Vijayawada) Link Project is one of the links under
the Peninsular Component of the National Perspective Plan (1980). The feasibility report for this project was
prepared by NWDA in September 1999. Subsequently, the link was taken over by the State of Andhra
Pradesh under the Indirasagar Polavaram Project, and the Detailed Project Report (DPR) was submitted to
the Central Water Commission (CWC) in 2005. The DPR was approved in 2009 for diversion of 4666 MCM
through the Right Main Canal.
Following the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, the link came under the Polavaram Project Authority as
part of the Polavaram Irrigation National Project, declared under the Andhra Pradesh Re-organization Act,
2014.The water connectivity in the link canal has been established and canal has been put into temporary
operation through lift arrangements.
Other than the above, no ILR project under the National Perspective Plan involving Andhra Pradesh
has reached the stage of implementation.
(b) The Polavaram Irrigation Project (PIP), which also encompasses the Godavari (Polavaram)–Krishna
(Vijayawada) Link Project, is being implemented in the State of Andhra Pradesh and has been receiving
sustained financial support from the Government of India. Between 2014 and 2024, an amount of ₹15,146
crore was reimbursed to the State Government. The Government of India approved the Revised Cost
Estimate of ₹30,436 crore with an additional central assistance of ₹12,157 crore to facilitate timely
completion of the project. The cumulative Central Assistance /financial support extended to the State of
Andhra Pradesh for the Polavaram Irrigation Project stands at ₹20,658 crore till date.
(c) & (d) The details in this regards are given at Annexure.
(e) The Government of Andhra Pradesh has submitted the Pre-Feasibility Report (PFR) of the Polavaram–
Banakacherla Link Project, which envisages the transfer of flood waters from the Polavaram Dam to the
Banakacherla Regulator. The project has an estimated cost of ₹81,900 crore. The PFR was submitted to the
Central Water Commission (CWC) on 22 May 2022 for techno-economic appraisal. The submitted PFR has
been forwarded to Krishna River Management Board (KRMB), Godavari River Management Board
(GRMB), Polavaram Project Authority (PPA) Hyderabad, and the co-basin states like Telangana,
Maharashtra, Karnataka, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh for their views/comments.
***
2ANNEXURE
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a), (c) & (d) OF LOK SABHA STARRED
QUESTION NO. *79 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.12.2025 REGARDING “RIVER LINKING
PROJECTS INVOLVING ANDHRA PRADESH”
Status and benefits of ILR projects involving Andhra Pradesh
Sl.N Name States Annual Domestic & Hydro Status
o benefited Irrigation Industrial power
(Lakh ha) (MCM) (MW)
1. a.Mahanadi (Manibhadra) Andhra 4.43 802 445 Feasibility Report
-Godavari Pradesh (AP) completed
(Dowlaiswaram) link and Odisha
Alternate Mahanadi Odisha 3.52 493.70 210
(Barmul) - Rushikulya – Feasibility Report
AP 0.91 91.3
Godavari (Dowlaiswaram) completed
(Drinking
link
water) and
115
(Industrial)
2. Godavari (Polavaram) - AP 1.29 33.41 960 Project was taken
Krishna (Vijayawada) link over by State Govt.
for DPR preparation
and implementation.
Now being
implemented by
PPA as National
Project
3. Godavari (Inchampalli/ Telangana 0.36 26.28 90
SSMPP) - Krishna AP 4.38 319.7 --- DPR completed
(Pulichintala) link
4. a.) Krishna 1.68 124 90 Feasibility Report
(Nagarjunasagar) - Pennar AP completed
(Somasila ) link
b.)Alternate under GC
link: Krishna DPR completed
AP 1.71 236 40
(Nagarjunasagar) - Pennar
(Somasila ) link
5. Krishna (Srisailam) – AP 1.79 58 11 DPR Completed
Pennar link
6. Krishna (Almatti) – Karnataka 0.69 66.31
Pennar link AP 1.57 10.1(Drinkin DPR Completed
g water) & --
22.3
(Industrial)
7. a.) Pennar (Somasila) - AP 0.49 1105 -- Feasibility Report
Cauvery (Grand Anicut) Tamil Nadu 4.36 completed
link Puducherry 0.06
b.) Alternate Pennar AP 0.51 43
(Somasila) - Cauvery Tamil Nadu 1.14 618 DPR completed
(Grand Anicut) link Puducherry -- 62
*****
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