CHITTOOR, Sept. 7, 2026: A ₹2,370-crore drinking water project aimed at providing long-term water security to the western parts of the erstwhile Chittoor district is progressing rapidly under the special supervision of Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan.

The Chittoor Multi-Village Scheme, being implemented under the Jal Jeevan Mission and Amarajeevi Jaldhara programmes, is expected to provide clean drinking water to 3,163 habitations across 18 mandals, benefiting nearly 25 lakh people across three Assembly constituencies.

Kalyan has directed officials to divide the annual targets into monthly and weekly milestones and closely review progress to ensure the project is completed within the stipulated timeframe. He also reviewed construction activities and the status of permissions required from various departments for the project.

The scheme will draw water from the Gandikota and Veligallu reservoirs. Construction of an intake well at Gandikota is under way, while three of the four planned raw-water sumps are progressing rapidly.

Two major water treatment plants are also under construction — a 75-million-litre-per-day facility at Gurramkonda and a 26-million-litre-per-day facility at Veligallu. Seven water sumps, five overhead tanks, 14 ground-level balancing reservoirs and other components are being executed as part of 167 works under the project.

Around 130 kilometres of pipeline has already been laid, marking significant progress in the distribution network.

The project forms part of the state's larger drinking-water programme under Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0. The coalition government has secured an extension of the national mission from 2024 to 2028 and is advancing drinking-water projects worth nearly ₹26,000 crore across Andhra Pradesh.

Kalyan has stressed that construction should meet quality standards and deliver durable infrastructure capable of serving communities for the long term. The initiative is intended to address chronic drinking-water shortages in some of the state's most water-stressed areas and provide a more reliable supply to rural households.

Deputy Chief Minister reviews district development with Collector and SP, directs officials to eliminate potholed roads, ensure drinking water supply, and complete Green Wall project before monsoon

KAKINADA: Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan on Thursday announced that he would visit Kakinada district once every two months, saying he intended to engage directly with residents of both the Kakinada and Pithapuram constituencies to hear their grievances at first hand and ensure their prompt resolution.

Chairing a review meeting at his camp office in Mangalagiri with Kakinada District Collector M.N. Harendraprasad and Superintendent of Police Bindhu Madhav, Mr. Kalyan issued a series of directives covering infrastructure, public health, sanitation, youth welfare, and law enforcement.

Roads and water supply

Mr. Kalyan directed the Collector to ensure that not a single potholed road remained anywhere in the district. He said roads that had deteriorated beyond repair should be rebuilt entirely, while minor potholes were to be patched without delay. He also called for a comprehensive plan to develop all internal roads across the district, with particular attention to village-level connectivity.

On drinking water, the Deputy Chief Minister stressed that every household must receive potable water in line with the targets set under the Jal Jeevan Mission, and that disruptions to supply under no circumstances should be allowed to occur.

Health, sanitation, and youth

Mr. Kalyan asked officials to strengthen oversight of government hospitals, conduct periodic reviews of facilities, and prioritise sanitation management across the district. He directed that village-level parks be developed and that schools and hostels be visited regularly to assess and address the needs of students.

The Deputy Chief Minister also called for structured programmes to train youth in sports, arts, and vocational skills, saying that identifying and nurturing talent at the grassroots would multiply the productive capacity of young people in the district. He asked that libraries be strengthened and that mechanisms be put in place to recognise and encourage innovation among youth.

Green Wall and environment

Mr. Kalyan instructed forest officials to ensure that the Great Green Wall project — a coastal plantation drive along Kakinada district's shoreline — was completed before the onset of the monsoon. He asked that a tree-planting programme be launched as part of broader environmental conservation efforts in the district.

Crackdown on ration mafia

Addressing the SP, Mr. Kalyan called for firm action against the illegal diversion of PDS rice, saying that those involved in the ration mafia must be dealt with decisively. He directed the police to put in place stringent measures to prevent the illicit transportation of subsidised grain meant for the poor.

"I will visit Kakinada and Pithapuram every two months and meet people directly. Every problem they bring to me will be looked into personally."

— Pawan Kalyan, Deputy Chief Minister, Andhra Pradesh

Mr. Kalyan holds the Pithapuram assembly constituency and has represented it since the 2024 general elections. Thursday's review is the latest in a series of administrative engagements he has undertaken at the district level since assuming office as Deputy Chief Minister.

BJP Launches 'Mana Ooru Mana Jenda' in 16,000 Villages; QR Codes on Flag Posts to Track Development

State president PVN Madhav unveils ambitious grassroots initiative at Motadaka village in Guntur district, highlights Rs. 3 crore Central funds spent in the village alone

GUNTUR: The Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday launched its ambitious statewide grassroots initiative 'Mana Ooru Mana Jenda' (Our Village, Our Flag) at Motadaka village in Tadikonda mandal of Guntur district, marking the party's 47th Foundation Day with a pledge to hoist the BJP flag in all 16,000 villages across Andhra Pradesh.

State president PVN Madhav, who attended the event as chief guest under the chairmanship of Tadikonda mandal president Bandla Ashok, formally unveiled the party flag to inaugurate the programme, which was attended by district president Cherukuri Tirupati Rao and a large contingent of party leaders and workers.

Speaking to the media on the occasion, Mr. Madhav announced a distinctive technological feature of the initiative — the installation of QR codes on flag posts in every village, enabling citizens to access information on Central government funds released and development works undertaken in their respective villages at the click of a button. "This will bring transparency and awareness to the doorstep of every villager," he said.

Elaborating on the Central government's developmental footprint in Motadaka village alone, Mr. Madhav said the village had received approximately Rs. 3 crore in Central funds. Under the Jal Jeevan Mission, Rs. 1.24 crore had been spent to provide tap water connections to every household, he said, adding that 685 beneficiaries had been provided 120 days of employment under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. Construction of 174 houses was under way under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, he noted.

Mr. Madhav further highlighted the effective implementation of several flagship Central schemes in the village, including toilet construction under the Swachh Bharat Mission, health coverage of up to Rs. 5 lakh per family under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, and nutritional support to children through Anganwadi centres. He said special measures had been taken to reduce the burden on women by ensuring tap water connectivity to every home.

Reaffirming the Central government's vision of transforming India into a developed nation by 2047, Mr. Madhav said the double-engine government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi remained firmly committed to the upliftment of the poor. He called upon BJP workers to ensure that the benefits of Central schemes reached every household.

District president Cherukuri Tirupati Rao, addressing the gathering, underscored the need to strengthen the party further from the village level and said it was the responsibility of every worker to carry the Central government's welfare and development programmes to the people. He expressed confidence that the 'Mana Ooru Mana Jenda' initiative would significantly enhance the BJP's influence in rural areas.

Mandal president Bandla Ashok said it was a matter of pride that Motadaka had been chosen as the launch village for the initiative, and called upon workers to raise the BJP flag at every home while spreading awareness about Central schemes.

The meeting was attended by Kisan Morcha state president Chigurpati Kumar Swamy, SC Morcha state president Panatala Suresh, Minority Morcha state president Syed Basha, Tadikonda Agricultural Market Yard Director Ramadevi, Kisan Morcha district general secretary Manchikalapudi Gangadhara Rao, mandal general secretaries Guduru Pradeep and Javvadi Suresh, and a large number of party functionaries and workers.