A permanent integrated drinking water project worth ₹136.26-crore was launched in Puttaparthi of Sri Sathya Sai district on Friday (May 22, 2026). District Collector Shyam Prasad and Puttaparthi MLA Palle Sindhura Reddy performed the ground-breaking ceremony near the Bukkapatnam tank in Kothacheruvu village.

The project, with a grant from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and being executed by Jindal Water Works, is envisaged to provide a permanent solution to the region’s drinking water needs.

Addressing the gathering, the Collector said the scheme had been designed to meet the drinking water requirements of nearly two lakh people by 2055, with a storage capacity of 90 lakh litres. He said the project would be completed by May 2028 and would provide quality drinking water to households through 11,700 tap connections.

MLA Sindhura Reddy said the coalition government revived the long-pending project after assuming office. She also announced plans for a Reliance solar power plant in Amadagur mandal and a proposed fighter aircraft manufacturing unit in Puttaparthi, expected to generate large-scale employment opportunities.

Officials from Revenue, Irrigation, Panchayat Raj, and allied departments, municipal authorities, Jindal representatives, and local residents participated in the event.