Andhra Pradesh to spend ₹3,000 crore on irrigation drain modernisation in Godavari region

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu inspecting cyclone-affected areas near Mogalthuru in West Godavari district on Friday. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

MOGALTHURU (WEST GODAVARI)

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Friday said that an estimated ₹3,000 crore would be sanctioned for the modernisation of irrigation drains, guaranteeing a permanent solution to the inundation of agricultural and horticultural fields in the Godavari region.

The backwaters are inundating standing crops and freshwater aquaculture ponds because irrigation drains are choked at their confluences.

Addressing the media after inspecting areas hit by Cyclone Arnab in Metturevu, Mogalthuru mandal, West Godavari district, Mr Naidu said the Water Resources Department had completed a survey and proposed an estimated expenditure of ₹3,000 crore to modernise irrigation drains in the Godavari region. 

“We aim to guarantee a permanent solution to the inundation of crops, and it can be achieved through modernisation of drains”, Mr. Naidu said. 

Referring to cyclone relief operations, Mr. Naidu assured that power restoration work for domestic connections will be completed by Sunday. He sought four more days to resume power supply for agricultural purposes.

Compensation

Mr. Naidu announced ₹5 lakh ex gratia to the families of those who died during the cyclone and ₹25,000 input subsidy per hectare for damaged crops, including paddy, sugarcane, commercial and horticulture crops. This is apart from the crop insurance entitlement. He announced ₹18,000 per hectare of aquaculture ponds for loss, ₹10,000 per damaged house and ₹25,000 for handloom equipment.

Mr. Naidu said the Coconut Board would be roped in to revive the damaged coconut trees. In West Godavari district alone, 12,500 trees, mostly coconut trees, collapsed.

“Compensation ranging from ₹9,000 to ₹25,000 will be given for damaged boats based on the loss of nets,” Mr. Naidu said. More than 300 fishing boats have been damaged in the Godavari region as per the preliminary reports. 

Water management

“Simultaneously, we have managed to fill the ponds and reservoirs with rainwater during the cyclone to tackle the drought conditions across the State and the water will also be used for rabi crops,” he said.

A whopping 4.68 TMC of rainwater has been diverted to reservoirs, while groundwater reserves have also improved by approximately 44 TMC due to continuous rainfall in coastal Andhra Pradesh. 

In a review meeting with the officials on the relief operations in Amaravati before visiting the cyclone-hit areas, Mr. Naidu said power supply has been restored to 87 of the 316 villages in Konaseema and 154 of the 318 villages in West Godavari district which reported supply disruptions. Of the 1,045 affected mobile towers, 661 have been restored.

Roads in 2,425 km in the State have been damaged due to the cyclone. Agricultural crops on over 3.5 lakh hectares have been submerged while horticultural crops on over 23,000 hectares were affected across the State.

Published - October 31, 2026 12:50 am IST