Andhra Pradesh turns to Netherlands’ gravity canal system to help curb flooding

As Amaravati takes shape, the ambitious capital city project of Andhra Pradesh is taking cues from the Netherlands’ gravity canal system to control flooding. On Monday, the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) announced several initiatives aimed at upgrading the city’s infrastructure, which includes integrating gravity-based water canals modelled after the Dutch approach.
The CRDA revealed the details of the project after a meeting chaired by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, where Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MAUD) P Narayana confirmed that the World Bank would allocate Rs 15,000 crore towards Amaravati’s development. However, this funding depends on the swift implementation of effective flood prevention measures.
“The severe flooding in Vijayawada in September highlighted the urgent need for flood protection in the capital region,” Minister Narayana explained. “As part of this, reservoirs are being constructed across the 217 km stretch of Amaravati.”
In his statement, Minister Narayana stressed the importance of finalising these measures as soon as possible to secure World Bank funding and meet development goals. “These reservoirs will play a crucial role in maintaining Amaravati’s safety and ensuring a stable water flow, much like the gravity canal systems that have safeguarded the Netherlands for centuries,” he said.
The CRDA has started constructing gravity canal reservoirs in locations such as Kondaveeti and Palavagu. Additional storage reservoirs are also underway at Neerukonda, Krishnayapalem, Sakhamuru, and Vundavalli to manage excess water and protect low-lying areas from potential flooding.
The gravity canal system is a method of water management that uses natural gravitational force to direct water through canals and reservoirs without any pumps or external energy. It enables water to flow from higher elevations to lower areas, aiding both irrigation and flood control by diverting excess water to controlled storage locations.
The state’s flood strategy also includes plans for new inner and outer ring roads to bolster Amaravati’s connectivity and resilience, despite existing bypass roads.
In addition to the gravity canal system, the CRDA has decided to invite fresh tenders for all Amaravati projects by January, closing those originally tendered between 2014 and 2019, many of which were left incomplete by the previous government. Narayana disclosed that approximately Rs 35,000 crore had already been invested in high court and legislative buildings, residential complexes for officials, and infrastructure, yet some critical payments had been delayed.