The Poola Subbaiah Veligonda Project is no longer merely an irrigation project. It has become a measure of Andhra Pradesh’s decades-long political history, development claims, and the performance of successive governments. As Phase-I of the project now approaches its final stage, the political battle over credit has once again intensified.
On one side, the TDP argues that it laid the foundation for the project. On the other, the opposition YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) is raising questions about who actually built the project, who gave it momentum, and under whose rule the crucial tunnel breakthroughs were achieved.
To understand the political history of Veligonda, it is first necessary to understand the project’s significance.
Veligonda: A Lifeline for Drought-Prone Regions
The Veligonda Project was conceived with the objective of diverting Krishna floodwaters from the Srisailam Reservoir to drought-prone areas of Prakasam, Nellore and Kadapa districts.
The project is intended to provide drinking water to approximately 15.25 lakh people and irrigation facilities to around 4.47 lakh acres.
For western Prakasam, which has faced decades of drought and fluoride-related problems, Veligonda has been projected as a long-term solution. Apart from agriculture, the project is also considered important for the future development of the Donakonda industrial region.
Therefore, Veligonda is not merely an irrigation project. It is closely linked to the economic and social future of people across three districts.
Veligonda’s Early History: The 1996 Foundation Stone
The history of the project reportedly goes back to around 1991, when feasibility studies began. The first Detailed Project Report (DPR) was prepared in 1994.
The original design envisaged transferring water through a single tunnel.
Based on this preliminary plan, then Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu laid the foundation stone for the Veligonda Project at Gottipadu on March 5, 1996, along with foundation stones for several other projects as the parliamentary elections approached.
There is no need to deny this historical fact.
However, this is precisely where the real history of Veligonda needs to be examined.
Does Laying a Foundation Stone Mean Building a Project?
Laying a foundation stone and actually constructing a project are two different things.
Did machinery enter the field immediately after the foundation stone was laid? Were funds released? Did tunnel excavation begin? Were canals constructed?
Without answering these questions, simply pointing to a foundation stone and claiming the entire credit for a project tells only half the story.
Critics argue that this is precisely what the TDP is doing in the case of Veligonda.
After the foundation stone was laid in 1996, actual construction did not progress for several years. The necessary clearances were not obtained, budgetary allocations were not made, and there was reportedly no significant expenditure on construction during that period.
The expenditure during that phase was reportedly limited to around ₹10 lakh spent on the foundation-stone ceremony, rather than on actual construction.
The Nine-Year Gap: 1996 to 2005
This gap is important in understanding the political history of the project.
A foundation stone may mark a political decision, but transforming that decision into a functioning irrigation project requires years of administrative approvals, funding, technical planning, land acquisition and construction.
If construction had begun immediately after the 1996 foundation stone, the government of the time — particularly Chandrababu Naidu’s administration — would have had a clear claim to construction credit.
However, construction did not move forward for nearly nine years.
It was only after Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy became Chief Minister in 2004 that the project entered an active construction phase.
YSR Government Gives Veligonda a New Push
After taking office in 2004, the YSR government gave greater priority to irrigation projects under the Jalayagnam programme, and Veligonda was brought into the active construction phase.
On July 9, 2004, administrative approval was reportedly granted through G.O. 120.
A fresh foundation ceremony followed, and actual construction works began in August 2005.
The key political point here is the nearly nine-year gap between the 1996 foundation stone and the commencement of actual construction in 2005.
Critics argue that this gap highlights the failure of the earlier government to move the project forward.
From a development perspective, credit should therefore be assessed on the basis of the actual work carried out, rather than simply on the basis of who laid the first foundation stone.
Major Technical Changes Under the YSR Government
The role of the YSR government was not limited to providing funds and administrative approvals.
Important technical decisions were also taken in relation to the project’s design.
One of the crucial issues was the water level required to divert water from the Srisailam Reservoir towards the Veligonda region.
In this context, the decision relating to the Minimum Drawdown Level had a direct impact on the technical feasibility of the project.
The water level was reportedly increased from 834 feet to 854 feet, which became an important technical development for the project.
This helped transform Veligonda from a project existing largely on paper into one capable of actually transferring water through tunnels.
At the same time, the project design was changed from a single-tunnel system to twin tunnels.
Large tunnel-boring machinery was brought from abroad, and excavation began through the difficult terrain.
More Than Half of the Tunnel Work Completed Between 2004 and 2014
The tunnel construction figures provide an important basis for assessing the different governments’ contributions.
According to the stated official figures:
- Tunnel-1: 11.586 km completed between 2004 and 2014
- Tunnel-2: 8.747 km completed between 2004 and 2014
- Total: 20.333 km
This amounted to approximately 54.1% of the total tunnel excavation.
In other words, more than half of the tunnel excavation had been completed before 2014.
These figures form a major part of the argument that the YSR government played a significant role in transforming Veligonda from a long-pending proposal into a major construction project.
What Happened Between 2014 and 2019?
In 2014, the government changed and Chandrababu Naidu returned as Chief Minister.
The Veligonda works continued during the TDP government’s tenure.
However, the extent of work completed during those five years is also relevant when assessing political credit.
According to the stated figures:
- Tunnel-1: 4.331 km
- Tunnel-2: 2.355 km
- Total: 6.686 km
This represents approximately 17.8% of the total tunnel work.
The period was also marked by allegations concerning the execution of Tunnel-2.
It was alleged that the contractor previously working on the second tunnel was removed, estimates were substantially increased, and the work was awarded to Rithwik Projects, associated with then TDP MP C.M. Ramesh.
There were also allegations that more than ₹650 crore was paid to contractors through a Government Order issued in the name of price adjustment.
These are allegations and form part of the political debate surrounding the project.
TDP’s Construction Contribution: 17.8%
Based on the tunnel excavation figures cited above, the work carried out between 2014 and 2019 accounts for approximately 17.8% of the total tunnel construction.
That contribution should not be ignored.
The work completed during the Chandrababu government deserves to be acknowledged.
However, critics argue that claiming ownership of the entire project while overlooking the remaining 82.2% of the tunnel construction history would amount to presenting only one part of the story.
YS Jagan Government and the Final Tunnel Push
In 2019, Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy came to power, and the Veligonda Project entered another crucial phase.
Between 2019 and 2024, the stated figures show:
- Tunnel-1: 2.883 km
- Tunnel-2: 7.685 km
- Total: 10.568 km
This represents approximately 28.1% of the total tunnel excavation.
However, these numbers cannot be viewed merely as percentages.
The remaining tunnel stretches were among the most technically challenging portions of the project.
Twin Tunnel Breakthrough: March 6, 2024
A major milestone was achieved during the Jagan government’s tenure.
On March 6, 2024, the twin tunnels achieved their breakthrough.
The event marked a significant moment in the decades-long history of the Veligonda Project.
After years of excavation, construction and technical challenges, the breakthrough represented the completion of a crucial stage in establishing the project’s underground water-transfer system.
This is one of the key points being highlighted by the YSRCP in its argument over political credit.
The 82.2% Figure in Veligonda’s Construction History
The tunnel construction figures present the following picture:
| Government period | Tunnel work completed | Approx. share |
|---|---|---|
| YSR Government: 2004–2014 | 20.333 km | 54.1% |
| Chandrababu Government: 2014–2019 | 6.686 km | 17.8% |
| Jagan Government: 2019–2024 | 10.568 km | 28.1% |
| Total | 37.587 km | 100% |
Based on these figures, the work completed during the YSR and Jagan governments together accounts for approximately 82.2% of the tunnel excavation.
This 82.2% figure has therefore become central to the political argument over who deserves credit for the project.
On one side is the argument that Chandrababu Naidu laid the foundation stone in 1996.
On the other is the argument that the bulk of the actual tunnel construction took place during the YSR and Jagan governments.
Current Government and the Final Stage
The present coalition government says it is working towards completing the remaining components, including feeder canals, lining, benching and rehabilitation works, and making the project fully operational.
Completing the final stage of a major infrastructure project is undoubtedly important.
However, political credit must have reasonable limits.
Completing the final works does not mean that the entire construction history of the previous two decades can be claimed as the achievement of one government.
A person who applies the final coat of paint to a building cannot claim credit for laying its foundation, constructing its pillars and building its structure.
Similarly, cutting the ribbon at the inauguration of Veligonda cannot automatically translate into ownership of every kilometre of tunnel excavated over several decades.
Credit Should Reflect Actual Work
The history of Veligonda demonstrates that large infrastructure projects are rarely the achievement of a single government.
One government may conceptualise a project. Another may provide administrative approvals. Another may change the technical design. Another may accelerate construction. Yet another may complete the final components.
Therefore, a fair political assessment should recognise each government’s contribution according to the work it actually completed.
In Veligonda’s case, the stated official figures indicate that:
- The YSR government gave the project administrative and construction momentum and completed approximately 54.1% of the tunnel excavation.
- The Chandrababu government completed approximately 17.8% of the tunnel work between 2014 and 2019.
- The Jagan government completed approximately 28.1% of the tunnel excavation and achieved the twin-tunnel breakthrough in March 2024.
Ignoring any of these contributions would provide an incomplete picture of the project’s history.
Veligonda’s Real Success Should Be Measured by Its Impact
Ultimately, the most important question is not which political party gets the credit.
The real measure of Veligonda’s success should be whether the project delivers the benefits for which it was conceived.
Will drinking water reach the people of Prakasam and other beneficiary districts?
Will irrigation expand in drought-prone regions?
Will the long-standing fluoride problem be reduced?
Will agriculture and rural livelihoods improve?
Will the project contribute to the development of the Donakonda industrial region?
These outcomes matter more to the people than political claims over foundation stones and inauguration ceremonies.
The Political Legacy of Veligonda
However, when political publicity accompanies the completion or inauguration of a major project, its historical record also deserves to be remembered.
Future generations should know not merely who cut the ribbon, but also:
- Who gave the project administrative approval?
- Who started actual construction?
- Who changed its technical design?
- Under whose tenure were the majority of tunnels excavated?
- Who overcame the most difficult construction challenges?
- Under whose government was the twin-tunnel breakthrough achieved?
A name engraved on a foundation stone may provide political recognition.
But kilometres of tunnels carved through mountains provide physical evidence of construction.
Political statements may change with governments. Posters may change. Slogans may change.
But the tunnel figures — 20.333 km, 6.686 km and 10.568 km — remain part of the project’s construction record.
The Veligonda Project, therefore, should not be reduced to a single foundation stone or a single inauguration ceremony.
Its history is the combined story of multiple governments, decades of delays, technical challenges, political decisions and construction efforts.
The real achievement will ultimately be measured not by who claims the credit, but by whether the water finally reaches the people who have been waiting for it for decades.
And if history is to record the Veligonda story fairly, it must remember not only who laid the first stone, but also who turned that stone into tunnels, canals and, ultimately, a pathway for water to reach drought-prone regions.
