AP Transport Minister Opens Veligallu Canal, Advises Shift to Dryland Farming

Andhra Pradesh's Transport Minister Ramprasad Reddy opened the right canal of the Veligallu irrigation project, releasing water at an initial rate of 120 cusecs to begin operations. The discharge will be regulated to 80 cusecs after a fortnight as the project stabilizes its water management protocols.

The minister urged farming communities in the project's command area to consider transitioning toward dryland crops suited to the region's water availability patterns. This advisory reflects broader efforts to optimize agricultural practices given prevailing water constraints across the state.

Parallel to the Veligallu canal inauguration, state authorities are developing complementary arrangements to augment water supplies through the Handri-Neeva project. Officials plan to replenish equivalent quantities through this alternative source, creating a more resilient water distribution framework across multiple irrigation systems.

The dual approach—balancing immediate canal operations while building supplementary supply mechanisms—signals the administration's strategy to maximize irrigation coverage while promoting sustainable farming methods adapted to regional hydrological conditions.