Pradeep Vennelakanti Tirupati

Oneof the largest rural drinking water projects in Rayalaseema is gathering momentum. The state government is pushing ahead with a Rs 5,250-crore scheme to transport and treat water from the Gandikota reservoir for supply to drought-prone areas of Annamayya and Chittoor districts.

The ‘Drinking Water Supply Scheme for Western Chittoor Region’ aims to provide a permanent solution to the chronic drinking water shortage faced by the western parts of the erstwhile Chittoor district. The project will draw water from the Gandikota reservoir in YSR Kadapa district and supply it to seven Assembly constituencies spread across Annamayya and Chittoor districts.

The scheme is being implemented in two phases at a total estimated cost of over Rs 5,250 crore. While works under Phase-I are already in progress, the government has invited tenders for Phase-II, marking a significant step in the execution of the long-pending project.

Under Phase-I, the government sanctioned Rs 2,370 crore and commenced works in April 2025. The project is scheduled for completion by October 2027. Officials said works worth nearly Rs 90 crore have already been completed and construction activity is expected to pick up pace in the coming months. The first phase will provide drinking water to Rayachoti, Pileru and Thamballapalle Assembly constituencies.

For Phase-II, tenders worth Rs 2,886 crore have been invited. Online bids are being accepted from June 12 to June 27. Rural Water Supply Chief Engineer Hareram Naik issued orders related to the tender process on June 5. After completion, the second phase will extend drinking water supply to Madanapalle, Punganur, Palamaner and Kuppam constituencies.

As part of the project, a balancing reservoir will be constructed at Gandikota. Water will then be conveyed through transmission pipelines to treatment facilities proposed in Gurramkonda mandal of Annamayya district. Separate water treatment plants are being established for the two phases.

The Phase-I water treatment plant, estimated to cost around Rs 300 crore, is already under construction. A second treatment facility will be taken up after the Phase-II contract is finalised. Each plant will have a treatment capacity of 75 million litres per day (MLD), taking the total capacity to 150 MLD. Officials said the project is expected to meet the drinking water needs of several lakh people across the beneficiary constituencies. The scheme is considered crucial for the western Chittoor region, which has long struggled with low rainfall, recurring droughts and excessive dependence on groundwater sources.