Andhra Pradesh is endowed with many tanks with immense potential for irrigation that has been a LIFE LINE for millions of rural communities over centuries. There are about 41,715 irrigation tanks in the State with in irrigation potential of approximately 40.97 Lakh Ha. Most of the tanks in the State now operate below their designed capacity and the gap between the designed capacity and actual irrigation varies between 40-60 percent depending on annual rainfall and require revival and restoration.

Accordingly, “Andhra Pradesh Community Based Tank Management Project” is taken up with the assistance of Govt. of India and World Bank covering 2157 tanks in 499 mandals of 21 districts with an approximate cost of Rs. 1032 crores. After state bifurcation, AP has 975 tanks under the project costing 459.20 crores in 200 mandals of 12 districts.

The available irrigation water is to be utilized efficiently keeping the motto ‘MORE CROP PER DROP’ with the participation of Water Users Associations. Time bound action plans and convergence of programmes of various departments related to irrigation management is envisaged under the project.