Water Resources Minister Nimmala Ramanaidu announced that 299 out of 517 irrigation tanks in the Handri-Neeva project command area have been filled with Krishna water, offering significant relief to the drought-hit Rayalaseema region.

At a review meeting in Kurnool, he praised officials for completing the main canal works on time and instructed seamless water flow till Kuppam. The current TDP-led NDA government, under CM N Chandrababu Naidu, achieved 87.86 percent reservoir storage—844 TMC out of 961 TMC capacity, the Minister informed. The Rs 3,850 crore project channels Krishna water across 738 km. Of the 517 tanks, 174 are fully filled, 125 partially, and the rest will be completed by February.

Water supply responsibilities have been assigned to local officials. Phase II will bring water to Hindupur, Madakasira, and Penugonda. The CM aims to transform Rayalaseema into 'Ratanala Seema' by extending water to Tirupati Kalyani Dam.