Trust seeks Central funds to conserve Gundlakamma river

A fisherman rows past silted, grass-covered shallows on the Gundlakamma river near Ongole. File | With the funds, it plans a 280-km afforestation programme along both banks of the river, an anti-encroachment drive and a boundary survey for the rejuvenation work.Speaking to The Hindu, HDPT Chairman and former IAS officer Dasari Srinivasulu said: “We have taken up Gundlakamma Harithaharam, a mega plantation drive to safeguard the local ecosystem by planting diverse native plant species along the banks of the river, right from its origin at Gundla Brahmeswaram all the way to its ultimate confluence with the sea at Gundayapalem.”“Similar to the Namami Gange Programme, an integrated conservation mission taken up by the Union government in June 2014 for the rejuvenation of the Ganga, it is necessary to conserve the Gundlakamma, which originates, flows and merges with the sea in the combined Prakasam district. This ancient and holy river is the lifeline of the district’s people,” he said.In a letter to Union Minister for Jal Shakti Chandrakant Raghunath Patil, HDPT State coordinator and Gundlakamma project in-charge Sandireddy Kondala Rao said: “Gundlakamma river serves as the primary source of irrigation for lakhs of acres in backward districts, Nandyal, Palnadu and Markapuram, and provides drinking water to lakhs of people in the fluoride-prone region.”“As it is vital to support such perennial lifelines of south India, we seek financial assistance for the full revival of the river. Apart from the river conservation, we aim for the overall ecological protection through specialised awareness programmes focusing on tree plantation to instil strong environmental consciousness among youth, students and the general public,” he added. Published - August 05, 2026 03:57 pm IST