VIJAYAWADA: After decades of hardship caused by contaminated groundwater and a rise in kidney-related illnesses, residents of A. Konduru mandal in Andhra Pradesh’s Tiruvuru constituency are finally set to receive a reliable source of safe drinking water. The long-awaited Krishna Water Supply Project, developed under the Jal Jeevan Mission at a cost of Rs 49.4 crore, has reached its final stage and is expected to be inaugurated in March. The initiative has been actively pursued by MP Kesineni Sivanath and aims to bring treated water directly to households across the region.
Safe Water for Thousands After Years of Health Crisis
The project will supply treated drinking water sourced from the Krishna River to 38 affected habitations in A. Konduru mandal. Once operational, the scheme will benefit a population of around 56,481 people by providing 100 percent Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTCs), ensuring that residents receive clean water directly in their homes. For many families who have struggled for years with unsafe groundwater, the project is expected to significantly improve both public health and quality of life.
As part of the infrastructure development, 43 existing Over Head Service Reservoirs (OHSRs) have been repaired and strengthened, while 12 new reservoirs have been constructed, bringing the total number of functional tanks to 55. Filtered water from the Ibrahimpatnam VTPS Canal will first be treated and pumped to the Kudapa sump, from where it will be distributed to Vissannapeta, Gampalagudem, and all the villages in A. Konduru mandal.
The pipeline network has already been completed, allowing simultaneous supply to all beneficiary villages while ensuring sufficient storage capacity based on future population projections and the 55 litres per capita per day (LPCD) water supply standard.
Project Aims to End Fluoride-Linked Kidney Disease in Region
For years, A. Konduru mandal has reported a high prevalence of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), which health officials and local surveys have largely attributed to the long-term consumption of groundwater contaminated with fluoride and other minerals. Many villages relied heavily on borewells that contained high levels of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), making the water unsafe for regular consumption.
Medical records and rural health assessments indicate that more than 460 kidney-related cases have been reported in the mandal over the past decade, with over 60 deaths linked to renal complications. The lack of alternative water sources forced residents to continue using contaminated groundwater, leading to severe health issues and financial burdens for families seeking treatment.
Although the project was sanctioned in 2023, initial progress was slow. However, after the NDA government came to power, MP Kesineni Sivanath intensified monitoring of the project, holding frequent review meetings with officials from the Rural Water Supply (RWS) department to ensure faster completion.
The villages set to receive Krishna water include Kummarinkunta, Patha Repudi, Kotha Repudi, East Madhavaram, West Madhavaram, Metta Thanda, Repudi Thanda, Krishnaravupalem, Mansing Thanda, Kesya Thanda, Pedda Thanda, Chaitanya Nagar, Cheemalapadu, Venkata Thanda, Lakshmipuram, Deepala Nagar, Karunapuram, Konduru Thanda, A. Konduru, Patha Konduru, Atlapragada, Gollamandala, Gollamandala Thanda, Ramachandrapuram, Khambampadu, Koduru, Marepalli, Gunachintalapadu, Polisettipadu, Komatikunta, Gopalapuram, Vallampatla, Kothuru, Harijanawada, Vaddera Bazaar, Jeelakunta, Reddy Bazaar and Janalagadda. Among these, Khambampadu, A. Konduru, Gollamandala and Polisettipadu are expected to see the most significant impact due to their larger populations.
Officials confirmed that arrangements are currently underway for the formal inauguration of the project in March. Either Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu or Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan is expected to launch the scheme. According to A. Rama Krishna, Superintending Engineer of the Rural Water Supply department in NTR district, a trial run has already been conducted successfully.
“During the trial run we observed that water could not reach three tail-end hamlets. The network is now being redesigned to address the issue, and the remaining work will be completed before the inauguration,” he said.
Once completed, the Krishna Water Supply Project is expected to bring lasting relief to thousands of residents, marking a major step toward addressing long-standing water quality and public health challenges in the region.