Hyderabad: Marri Shashidhar Reddy, a senior public policy advocate, wrote a letter to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. He suggested reconsidering the costly Polavaram–Banakacherla Link Project (PBLP), which is priced at Rs 81,900 crore. Instead, Reddy proposed using the Four Waters Concept (FWC), a proven, cheaper method developed by irrigation expert T. Hanumantha Rao.
The PBLP aims to irrigate 30 lakh acres in Rayalaseema, but it faces several challenges. It needs 54,000 acres of land, including 15,300 acres of forest. The Expert Appraisal Committee of the Ministry of Environment returned the proposal due to unresolved issues.
Reddy described the PBLP as a possible “white elephant” and suggested FWC as a better alternative. The Four Waters Concept, introduced during a Water Conservation Mission in 2000 by Naidu, combines rainwater, surface water, soil moisture, and groundwater for year-round farming. It was successful in over 200 villages in Telangana and Rayalaseema, allowing three crops per year at just Rs 5,000 per acre.
Reddy mentioned the success of FWC in Rajasthan under the Mukhyamantri Jal Swavalamban Abhiyan (MJSA), which improved groundwater and planted 25 lakh trees in one campaign. The FWC doesn’t need cement or contractors, focusing on simple earthworks and vegetative methods that farmers can do themselves.
Reddy estimated that FWC could irrigate the same 30 lakh acres for only Rs 4,500 crore, much less than PBLP. He also suggested a similar FWC-based plan for Telangana CM Revanth Reddy regarding the Narayanpet–Kodangal Lift Scheme, claiming it would cost just 1/50th of the original plan.
Expressing admiration for Naidu’s vision, Reddy requested a meeting in Amaravati to discuss the proposal. He noted that the Governor of Maharashtra has agreed to start a pilot FWC project with agricultural universities, showing national interest. As Reddy turns 76, he committed to promoting the Four Waters Concept as a key solution for India’s water and agricultural challenges.
