Srisailam Project: World's Largest Lift Irrigation, Yet Chittoor Farmers Thirsty

• The Handri-Neeva Sujala Sravanthi project, despite being the world's largest lift irrigation scheme, has failed to deliver Krishna river water to farmers' fields in Chittoor district.
• Conceived by NTR and accelerated by Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, the project aims to irrigate 6.025 lakh acres and provide drinking water to 33 lakh people in Rayalaseema.
• Despite 90% completion of the 430 km main canal, continuous irrigation water supply to Chittoor's 1.10 lakh acres has not been achieved, with water primarily used for testing.
• The Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy government faced criticism for slow progress, though some branch canals and reservoirs were completed, improving groundwater levels partially.
• The new NDA government under Chandrababu Naidu is prioritizing the project, ordering completion of Kuppam and Palamaner branch canals, clearing arrears, and resolving land acquisition issues to ensure water delivery by 2027.

Why It Matters: Despite being the world's largest lift irrigation project, Srisailam's water has not reached Chittoor farmers.