Like the mythological King Bhageeratha, who brought the Ganga to Earth, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu became a modern-day Bhageeratha for Kuppam.
The CM achieved the unthinkable by bringing Krishna waters to Rayalaseema and his home constituency, Kuppam. What seemed like a distant dream in the past is now a reality, thanks to his vision and planning.
The visuals of Chandrababu taking a boat ride in Krishna waters have gone viral, much to the joy of the locals. These waters reached Kuppam through the Handri-Neeva extended canal from Srisailam. Officials and locals gathered to celebrate the 738-metre-long journey of the Krishna River from Srisailam.
After performing a puja and participating in the jal aarti, the CM addressed the people of Kuppam. He reminded them that it was the late N.T. Rama Rao’s vision to bring water to Rayalaseema.
However, the conditions were not ideal back then. Rayalaseema, historically ruled by Srikrishnadevaraya, was once a “ratnala seema” (land of riches). Unfortunately, it turned into a “ralla seema” (dry land). The situation was so dire that water had to be transported by train to save cattle. For years, farmers only saw returns on groundnut crops for two out of ten years.
“I decided to change this. In 1999, I laid the foundation for Handri-Neeva and developed it. By 2025, we managed to bring Krishna waters to Paramasamudram. Despite the security concerns, I took a boat ride to celebrate this achievement with everyone,” he said, visibly elated.
“I want to share a secret. Our deity is Lord Venkateswara. In tough times, I pray to Him and move forward. I push ahead like a bullet, as I don’t know how to step back,” the CM added.
