Andhra Pradesh Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan Launches Rs 1290 Crore Drinking Water Project in Prakasam
Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan on Friday laid the foundation stone for a massive Rs 1,290 crore drinking water supply project under the central government’s flagship Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) in a significant move towards addressing the drinking water needs of rural households. The ceremony took place in Narasimhapuram village of Prakasam district, marking one of the largest rural water infrastructure undertakings in the state in recent years.
The project, designed to cover nearly 10 lakh households in the district, is part of the state’s commitment to providing sustainable and safe drinking water solutions to rural areas that have long struggled with access to clean water. Once completed, the initiative will drastically improve water availability across multiple mandals in Prakasam and ease the water crisis faced by lakhs of villagers.
Addressing a large gathering at the event, Pawan Kalyan emphasized that clean water is not a luxury but a basic right. “This project is not just about laying pipelines. It’s about bringing dignity and health to our villages. Every citizen, no matter how remote their home, should have access to safe and clean drinking water,” he said. The Deputy CM further stated that the water project would use modern pipeline infrastructure and advanced purification technology to ensure uninterrupted and contamination-free supply of drinking water. The initiative aligns with the larger national framework of the Jal Jeevan Mission, which was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2019 with the aim to provide Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTC) to every rural household across India.
The project will include construction of new reservoirs, pumping stations, filtration units, and an expansive pipeline network connecting habitations from multiple water sources. Officials estimate that the execution will be completed in a phased manner, with major milestones targeted within the next two years. Senior officials from the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Department attended the event and shared key technical details of the project. According to them, the Prakasam water project will draw water from sustainable sources, including reservoirs and rivers, with adequate treatment protocols to ensure potability. The entire process will be monitored using digital tools under the JJM dashboard to ensure transparency and accountability.
Villagers present at the foundation laying ceremony expressed hope that the project would bring relief from long-standing water scarcity issues. In several mandals of Prakasam, families still rely on borewells or tankers, especially during peak summer months. Women and children, in particular, have to travel long distances daily to fetch water. The implementation of this project promises to drastically reduce this burden. Pawan Kalyan, who is holding the Panchayat Raj and Rural Development portfolio along with the Deputy CM post, has taken special interest in pushing forward rural infrastructure initiatives. Since assuming office, he has been vocal about improving the quality of life in backward and underserved regions of the state. This project, he noted, will be a “model for how targeted governance can bring real change.”
Local legislators and district officials who attended the event echoed the sentiment, calling the water supply initiative a game-changer for Prakasam. One local MLA stated that the area has waited for decades for such a transformative infrastructure project. “This will have a multi-dimensional impact—from reducing disease to improving school attendance and even boosting local economies,” he said. The funding for the Rs 1,290 crore project will be shared between the central and state governments under the standard cost-sharing mechanism of Jal Jeevan Mission. The state has already initiated the process of tendering for construction contracts, and officials confirmed that work will begin shortly after monsoon preparations are completed.
Under the guidelines of JJM, each state is expected to implement village action plans, conduct water quality testing, and establish Village Water and Sanitation Committees (VWSCs) to manage assets at the grassroots level. Andhra Pradesh officials confirmed that these components will also be executed in parallel in Prakasam to ensure long-term sustainability of the infrastructure. As per current data, Andhra Pradesh has already connected over 55 percent of its rural households to piped water supply under the Jal Jeevan Mission. With the inclusion of large-scale projects like the one in Prakasam, the state aims to reach 100 percent coverage before the national deadline.
The government also plans to integrate this initiative with health and sanitation campaigns. Officials are looking to coordinate with local panchayats and health workers to spread awareness about water conservation, hygiene, and safe storage practices. Pawan Kalyan concluded the ceremony by stating that this project was not just a development agenda but a personal mission. “We are not just building pipelines; we are building futures. This is what public service is about,” he told the crowd amid applause.
With the foundation laid and administrative backing firmly in place, the Rs 1,290 crore water project in Prakasam is expected to set a precedent for future rural infrastructure development across Andhra Pradesh.
