Amaravati, August 17, 2026 | INFRAINTEL Bureau
The Andhra Pradesh government is preparing a comprehensive proposal to increase the carrying capacity of the Yanamadurru Drain from the existing 23,000 cusecs to 30,000 cusecs. The plan also includes the reconstruction of its damaged inlets and the improvement of the adjoining drainage network.
State Irrigation Minister N. Ramanaidu informed the Legislative Assembly on Monday that 70 of the drain’s 86 inlets were in a dilapidated condition. He said the proposed works were intended to improve the canal’s discharge capacity and restore critical infrastructure along its course.
The Yanamadurru Drain is a major canal passing through Bhimavaram in West Godavari district. Apart from its importance to the regional drainage system, the canal has emerged as a serious environmental concern because of extensive pollution.
The water in the canal has reportedly turned dark due to the discharge of toxic chemicals and other pollutants. Its present condition stands in sharp contrast to the period up to the early 1990s, when residents used boats on the waterway to reach several villages near Bhimavaram.
According to the minister, the coalition government has already reconstructed 10 inlets in different phases at a cost of ₹3.2 crore. The administration is also undertaking development works along the Upputeru rivulet, into which the Yanamadurru Drain flows before reaching the Bay of Bengal.
The state government has allocated ₹14 crore for improving canals and drains across the Godavari delta. A Light Detection and Ranging survey has been completed, while a detailed project report for the proposed works is being prepared.
The development of the Godavari delta has also been included in the calendar of 36 priority irrigation projects released by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. The government has indicated that the proposed works will be completed within three years and before 2029.
The planned expansion of the Yanamadurru Drain is expected to strengthen floodwater management and improve drainage capacity in the region. However, the effectiveness of the intervention will also depend upon measures to prevent industrial and chemical pollution from continuing to enter the canal.