YSRCP leaders decry ‘neglect’ of Handri-Neeva canal system

YSRCP leaders inspecting the Handri-Neeva canal in Anantapur district on Sunday. | Photo Credit: R.V.S. PRASAD YSRCP leaders on Sunday inspected the Handri-Neeva canal system from Cholasamudram to Narayanapuram, and demanded immediate expansion of its capacity to 11,500 cusecs.Th party alleged that the NDA government weakened one of Rayalaseema’s critical irrigation projects through poor execution and policy reversals.As part of their ‘Chalo Cholasamudram’ protest to highlight the alleged neglect of the project, the YSRCP leaders visited the canal, and said its lining and expansion works were of substandard quality. They alleged large-scale irregularities in works costing ₹3,000 crore, and asserted that had the works been executed properly, Anantapur district would have received up to 80 tmc ft of water.The NDA government had cancelled the G.Os issued during the YSRCP term and reduced the canal’s capacity to 3,850 cusecs, undermining the long-term irrigation needs of Rayalaseema, they alleged.“The coalition government is systematically weakening the Handri-Neeva project and neglecting the region’s water security. Hundreds of crores of rupees have been siphoned off,” the YSRCP leaders alleged, and demanded a comprehensive investigation into it.The YSRCP leaders also criticised Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu for halting the Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation project and questioned why he failed to condemn the remarks made by his Telangana counterpart on the project.“The YSRCP, on coming to power, will restore and expand the Handri-Neeva canal capacity to 11,500 cusecs to ensure adequate irrigation for the region,” they said.Party leaders Ananta Venkatarami Reddy, Sake Sailajanath. Y. Visweswara Reddy and Kethireddy Peddareddy participated in the protest programme. Published - July 19, 2026 08:26 pm IST