Water resources dept gets Rs 18,224 crore to boost irrigation infra in AP budget

Vijayawada: Placing irrigation at the heart of the govt's growth strategy, finance minister P Keshav on Saturday proposed a massive ₹18,224 crore allocation for the water resources department in the 2026-27 budget. Noting that irrigation is not merely about constructing projects but also about securing water for generations, he said with changing rainfall patterns and climate variability, Andhra Pradesh is moving from monsoon dependence to resilience through storage, restoration, and efficient distribution of water resources.Criticising the previous regime for neglecting irrigation infrastructure in the state, Keshav alleged that unpaid bills and poor maintenance stalled key projects, leaving Rayalaseema and north coastal districts without assured water, and cited the Annamayya dam breach and damage to the diaphragm wall of Polavaram project as examples of past apathy.The budget also focuses on bridging the ayacut gap through CADA-based operation and maintenance works to ensure reliable water delivery up to tail-end reaches. Smart underground pressurised piped networks will replace open canals to enhance on-farm water-use efficiency to 75%, aiming for overall project efficiency of 50% under M-CADWM. He further said that PMKSY-HKKP-RRR-III will restore tanks and water bodies to increase storage capacity, while APILIP-II will ensure equitable supply to tail-end farmers.Strategic measures include strengthening water tax collection, deploying outsourcing Lascars at critical points, developing catchment areas to improve groundwater recharge, and promoting micro-irrigation systems to boost agricultural and horticultural productivity. The finance minister further reaffirmed the govt's commitment to completing major projects and pursuing the Polavaram-Nallamala Sagar link to drought-proof Rayalaseema.