Andhra Pradesh government has sanctioned ₹3173.30 crore for the Handri Neeva Sujalam Dravidam project (HNSSDP) extension to provide drinking water to 988 villages and 711 habitations in drought-prone Dharmavaram Assembly constituency of Anantapur district.
The project aims to address the long-standing drinking water woes in the region, which faces severe scarcity, particularly during summer. It involves drawing water from the Penna River and distributing it through a network of pipelines.
Key components include a 19.8 km tunnel to divert water from the Penna River to the HNSSDP main canal, construction of a 10 MLD (million liters per day) water treatment plant, and laying of 1,489 km of pipelines to reach the targeted villages and habitations.
The project will benefit over 4.5 lakh people across Dharmavaram, Kalyanadurgam, and Rapthadu constituencies. It is expected to provide 55 liters per capita per day (LPCD) of drinking water to each household.
The government has approved the release of ₹800 crore immediately for land acquisition and preliminary works. The project is slated for completion within 24 months.
Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy highlighted the region’s historical water problems and emphasized the project’s significance in ensuring a sustainable water supply. He stated that the HNSSDP extension is a crucial step towards fulfilling the government’s commitment to provide safe drinking water to all citizens.
The project is part of the larger HNSSDP, which aims to irrigate and provide drinking water to several drought-prone districts in Rayalaseema region. This extension specifically focuses on addressing the critical drinking water needs of the Dharmavaram area.
