Minister Keshav urges Centre's Support for River-linking in Andhra Pradesh

27 Dec 2024 CW Team

Finance Minister Payyavula Keshav has called on the Central Government to prioritize river-linking projects in Andhra Pradesh in the upcoming Union Budget 2025-26.

During a meeting in Rajasthan chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, as part of the Union Budget preparation process, Keshav highlighted that approximately 2,000 TMC of Godavari floodwater flows into the sea annually. In contrast, he pointed out that the Rayalaseema region suffers from low and erratic rainfall, making it prone to perennial drought.

Keshav explained that the Andhra Pradesh government has proposed linking the Krishna, Penna, and Vamsadhara rivers. This initiative aims to channel surplus water through a network of canals and reservoirs to the drought-affected and underdeveloped districts of Rayalaseema and South-Coastal Andhra Pradesh.

Referring to the Central Government's recent support for linking 11 rivers in Rajasthan to create a water-surplus region, Keshav urged similar financial backing for Andhra Pradesh's river-linking projects in the Union Budget. He also suggested adopting a 90:10 funding model for all Centrally Sponsored Schemes in Purvodaya States and providing viability gap funding for various Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects, including road infrastructure, airports, ports, and metro rail initiatives in Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam.

Additionally, he appealed for the approval of five Textile Clusters in Andhra Pradesh, emphasizing the significant population of weavers in the state.

Resources

24 Oct 2025

Blum Experience Centre Opens in Kanpur

Furniture fittings major Blum has expanded its presence in Uttar Pradesh with the opening of Elika by Ajanta Agencies, an authorised Blum Experience Centre in Kanpur. The centre offers homeowners, interior designers, and architects an opportunity to experience how high-quality fittings can transform comfort and functionality in modern living spaces. The experience centre showcases Blum’s signature innovations including the LEGRABOX drawer systems, SERVO-DRIVE motion technologies, SPACE STEP dual-purpose drawer and step solution, and SPACE TOWER tall pantry unit. Visitors can explore erg..

Kapsch TrafficCom Opens Four New Toll Plazas in Serbia

Kapsch TrafficCom has opened four new toll plazas along Serbia’s Moravski Corridor, marking another milestone in the country’s ongoing road infrastructure development. The corridor, a 112.4 km motorway in central Serbia, links the east-west axis with the north-south corridor between Hungary and North Macedonia, connecting the A1 and A2 highways and improving access between Belgrade and the Zlatibor mountain region. Ivan Katalina, Sales Manager Balkans, Kapsch TrafficCom, said, “The implementation of the tolling systems is proceeding smoothly and on schedule. Our local expertise, com..

Megaliter Varunaa Secures Rs 15 million Seed Funding for Urban Water Circularity

Hyderabad-based Megaliter Varunaa, a subsidiary of NSE-listed Banka BioLoo Limited and mentored by Brigade REAP, has raised Rs 15 million in seed capital from long-term institutional investors. The funding will accelerate project development, technology innovation, and business expansion in urban water management. Megaliter Varunaa transforms sewage treatment plants into circular water utilities through its flagship ‘Megaliter Model’—a zero-CapEx, subscription-based solution that maximises wastewater reuse for non-potable applications such as flushing, landscaping, and chiller syste..