Govt. to start relief payments for Veligonda displaced families in April, says Minister

Water Resources Minister Nimmala Rama Naidu announced that the State government will begin depositing relief and rehabilitation (R&R) payments to families displaced by the Veligonda project starting in April 2026. He made the announcement during an inspection of the feeder canal works near Dornala in Markapuram district on Tuesday. 

He also exuded confidence that the project works would most likely be completed by June 2026. Addressing the media after inspecting the project works, the Minister said, “Within two months, we have completed over 62 per cent of the construction of the 5.3-km retaining wall of the feeder canal, which was recently launched by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.”

“Only 5 per cent of the 20-km feeder canal lining has been completed till date, and we ordered that the remaining works be taken up at swift pace. Nearly 70 per cent of work on the head regulator retaining wall and wings has been completed so far. We have put the remaining 2,400 metres of lining on the track in Tunnel-2 at the rate of 700 metres per month by June. We have completed 500 metres of hard rock excavation work on the feeder canal,” he informed.

The Minister travelled for two hours in the backwaters of Srisailam reservoir to inspect the work of the head regulators near Kollam stream in the Veligonda project. He travelled a total of 18.8 km from the beginning to the end of the most complex tunnels and inspected the works. He also inspected the tunnel boring machine (TBM) mission that got stuck near the 12th km in Tunnel-2.

“Veligonda project, which is very crucial to the people of Markapuram and Prakasam districts, was totally ignored by former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy. He had inaugurated the project without completing the works,” Mr. Nimmala claimed.

“The coalition government has been working hard on the Veligonda project for the past 21 months. It is so ironic that the former Chief Minister had dedicated it to the nation two years ago. Mr. Jagan has proven himself to be a fraud, and a brand ambassador for liars. His regime is an example of worst governance and reminds the people of Tughlaq rule in modern times,” he added.