Andhra Pradesh’s promise to provide safe drinking water to every household has come under renewed scrutiny as the coalition government pushes major drinking water projects under the Jal Jeevan Mission–Amarajeevi Jaladhara initiative.
While the government is presenting the projects as a major step towards improving rural drinking water supply, the YSRCP has alleged that several projects were originally initiated or completed during the previous YS Jagan Mohan Reddy government and are now being rebranded to claim political credit.
22.8 Lakh Rural Households Still Without Tap Water
According to Jal Jeevan Mission data, Andhra Pradesh had 95,53,387 rural households as of September 29, 2026. Of these, 72,72,744 households had tap water connections.
This means around 22.8 lakh rural households were still outside tap water coverage, raising questions over the pace of implementation of the government’s promise to provide protected drinking water to every household.
Uddanam YSR Sujaldhara Project
The YSR Sujaldhara drinking water project in Uddanam is among the projects highlighted in the political debate.
The previous government reportedly completed and inaugurated the approximately Rs 700-crore project in 2023. The scheme was designed to provide protected drinking water to 807 villages across seven mandals in the Uddanam region.
The YSRCP now alleges that projects such as this are being presented under new branding despite having been initiated and completed during its tenure.
Pulivendula Mega Water Grid
The Rs 480-crore Pulivendula Mega Water Grid is another project at the centre of the controversy.
The project aims to supply drinking water to around 5.36 lakh people covering 299 habitations and 109 gram panchayats. According to government figures, the project had reached around 96% completion by August 2026.
The opposition argues that the project was initiated under the previous government and therefore should not be presented as a completely new achievement of the coalition government.
39.35 Lakh Tap Connections During Jagan Government
The YSRCP claims that 39.35 lakh new tap water connections were provided across Andhra Pradesh during the Jagan government from 2019 onwards.
It also claims that the previous government approved drinking water works worth approximately Rs 26,823 crore.
These figures have become a key part of the opposition’s argument that the foundation for several ongoing rural drinking water projects was laid before the present government came to power.
44,194 Small Water Works Allegedly Cancelled
The opposition has also accused the coalition government of cancelling 44,194 small drinking water works after coming to power.
According to the YSRCP, these works were worth more than Rs 10,000 crore and their cancellation delayed rural drinking water infrastructure.
The opposition further alleges that several of the cancelled works are now being repackaged into 10 multi-village drinking water projects worth around Rs 9,355 crore, with new foundation stones being laid under the Amarajeevi Jaladhara branding.
Credit Politics Ahead of Local Body Elections?
The latest controversy has gained political significance with local body elections approaching.
The YSRCP has alleged that the coalition government is focusing more on inaugurations, foundation ceremonies and rebranding of earlier projects than on delivering substantial new progress.
The opposition has particularly criticised the reported inauguration of projects in Proddatur that it claims were completed during the Jagan government.
The debate over Andhra Pradesh’s rural drinking water projects therefore goes beyond infrastructure. With millions of households still awaiting tap water connections, the key question is whether the focus should be on political credit or faster completion of drinking water projects.
For rural households, the real measure of the Jal Jeevan Mission in Andhra Pradesh will ultimately be how quickly reliable and safe tap water reaches every home.
