Markapuram Gets ₹1,290 Crore Water Project To Serve 10 Lakh Households
Markapuram in Andhra Pradesh witnessed the launch of a transformative ₹1,290 crore drinking water project under the national Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), promising piped water access to over 10 lakh rural households in Prakasam district. The initiative is a vital push to resolve chronic drinking water issues through a 5,000 km pipeline grid, reservoirs, and a treatment plant. Authorities are optimistic the project will address long-standing gaps in rural water supply and infrastructure planning.
The newly launched drinking water project under the Jal Jeevan Mission is set to revamp Prakasam district’s rural water infrastructure by delivering potable water through a network of pipelines. Planned components include a central treatment plant, 334 storage tanks, 31 balancing reservoirs, and 19 sumps. The extensive layout will span 5,000 km of underground pipeline to ensure seamless supply to nearly 10 lakh households. Experts believe this infrastructure revamp is essential to address water scarcity that has long plagued villages in the region. The Jal Jeevan Mission, launched in 2019 to provide every rural home with functional tap water, is now entering an implementation-heavy phase in Andhra Pradesh, with Prakasam as a key beneficiary. The district has reportedly received approvals for ₹13,900 crore under Phase I of the mission, signalling a scale of investment that could significantly improve water security and public health indicators if efficiently executed.
According to authorities, the project comes in response to earlier implementation delays and underperformance in rural water delivery across Andhra Pradesh. Experts noted that despite sanctioned funds of ₹26,000 crore between 2019 and 2024, previous execution challenges led to stagnant progress and continued water deprivation in many villages. Infrastructure had been laid, but essential water sources were missing, rendering large parts of the network non-functional. The new project plan aims to correct these gaps through comprehensive planning, improved coordination with central schemes, and data-driven oversight. Analysts suggest that this effort reflects a broader shift towards accountability and outcome-based execution in public infrastructure. By addressing past inefficiencies and fast-tracking project completion, the administration hopes to build trust with rural communities and ensure that massive investments translate into tangible service delivery. Stakeholders are optimistic that this marks a turning point for sustainable water access across drought-prone districts of Andhra Pradesh.
The ₹1,290 crore Jal Jeevan Mission project in Markapuram signals a critical shift in Andhra Pradesh’s approach to rural water infrastructure. With its scale, engineering layout, and intent to reach over 10 lakh households, the initiative could redefine how piped water access is delivered in underserved areas. While success hinges on timely execution and monitoring, the project offers a chance to bridge historical service gaps and provide rural families with long-overdue water security. Authorities now face the challenge of ensuring that this renewed effort results in long-lasting, equitable access to clean water for the state’s rural population.
