Andhra Pradesh NTR Jala Siri Scheme

Scheme Introduction: A Brief Overview

The Andhra Pradesh NTR Jala Siri Scheme helps eligible farmers get water for their crops by providing free borewell drilling on suitable agricultural land. It mainly supports farmers who do not have a reliable source of irrigation water. Eligible small and marginal farmers can also receive support for pump sets and electricity connections under the applicable rules. The Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Department oversees the scheme, while the District Water Management Agencies help carry out its work.

The government introduced the NTR Jala Siri programme in phases. It approved Phase II in 2015 and extended the programme to more districts in January 2016. In January 2017, the government also approved solar or energy-efficient pump sets for 30,000 successful borewells. These pump sets were intended to help farmers draw water for their crops while reducing their dependence on conventional electricity connections.

The solar pump facility under NTR Jala Siri is also relevant to the central government's PM-KUSUM Scheme, which supports the use of solar energy for farming. Under the applicable PM-KUSUM guidelines, the central government generally provides 30% of the approved cost of eligible standalone solar pumps. The state government contributes at least 30%, and the farmer pays the remaining amount, which may be covered through a bank loan. Andhra Pradesh also implements PM-KUSUM Component C to support solar power for agricultural electricity feeders. However, the government has not clearly announced the funding arrangement for solar pumps under NTR Jala Siri. The available documents also do not confirm that NTR Jala Siri has officially merged with PM-KUSUM.

In September 2020, the then Andhra Pradesh Government launched the YSR Jala Kala Scheme, which also provided free borewell drilling to eligible farmers. After the change of government in 2024, the NTR Jala Siri name appeared again in government programme and budget documents. The 2025–26 supplementary budget refers to the combined name "NTR Jala Siri/Jala Kala Programme". However, no official order confirming that the government formally closed YSR Jala Kala and replaced it with NTR Jala Siri has been identified.

The Andhra Pradesh Outcome Budget for 2025–26 set a target of drilling 6,667 borewells across 162 rural Assembly constituencies. It also included a target of providing 10,000 pump sets with accessories to small and marginal farmers under NTR Jala Siri. These figures show the government's planned work for the year. They do not confirm how many borewells or pump sets have actually been provided or whether farmers can currently submit applications.

Farmers interested in the Andhra Pradesh NTR Jala Siri Scheme should check the land requirements and make sure that groundwater is available at the proposed borewell site. They can visit their village secretariat to ask whether applications are open, which documents they need and what benefits are currently available. The published scheme information identifies the village secretariat as a point of contact, but the current application status has not been independently confirmed. Farmers who need financial support for agricultural expenses can also learn about the Kisan Credit Card Yojana.

Scheme Benefits

The Andhra Pradesh NTR Jala Siri Scheme aims to improve irrigation facilities for eligible farmers through the following benefits:

• Provides free borewell drilling to eligible farmers with suitable agricultural land and groundwater conditions.
• Offers free installation of pump sets and energisation to eligible small and marginal farmers, subject to applicable conditions.
• Supports the installation of solar or energy-efficient pump sets for successful borewells under the documented Phase II provisions.
• Helps farmers access groundwater for agricultural irrigation and improve water availability for cultivation.
• Reduces dependence on conventional electricity connections where solar pump sets are feasible.

Eligibility Requirements

Farmers must meet the prescribed landholding and groundwater conditions to qualify for borewell drilling under the Andhra Pradesh NTR Jala Siri Scheme. The following eligibility conditions are listed in the scheme's published application description:

• The applicant must be a farmer in Andhra Pradesh.
• The farmer should hold a minimum of 2.5 acres and a maximum of 10 acres of land.
• Farmers without 2.5 acres of contiguous land may apply as a group, provided the group together holds a minimum of 2.5 acres of contiguous land.
• Only one borewell is allowed per family.
• The farmer should not already have a working borewell or tube well.
• Farmers who have an abandoned borewell or tube well on their land are eligible.
• Farmers holding RoFR lands in tribal areas are eligible.
• Small and marginal farmers are eligible for free energisation and installation of pump sets.
• Land falling in submergence areas and lanka lands is not eligible.
• Revenue villages notified by the government as over-exploited are not eligible for drilling of borewells.

Important: These conditions are taken from the scheme's published application description. Applicants should confirm the latest eligibility requirements with their village secretariat or the concerned implementing authority before applying.

Required Documents

Farmers applying for the Andhra Pradesh NTR Jala Siri Scheme should keep their land and identity details ready for eligibility verification. The exact documents required may depend on the applicant's landholding and the applicable guidelines. Applicants should confirm the final document checklist with their village secretariat before submitting an application.

• Aadhaar Card or other accepted identity proof.
• Land ownership records or documents confirming agricultural landholding.
• Land survey number and details of the proposed borewell location.
• Relevant land or eligibility certificates, where applicable.
• For tribal area applicants, the RoFR land document.
• Bank account details, if required by the implementing authority.

Note: The above list is indicative and has not been verified as the complete official checklist for the current scheme. Applicants should confirm the mandatory documents with the concerned village secretariat or District Water Management Agency (DWMA).

Steps to Apply

Farmers interested in the Andhra Pradesh NTR Jala Siri Scheme can approach their village secretariat to enquire about the application process and current availability. The application and verification process described in the published scheme guidelines involves the following steps:

How to Apply Offline

• Visit the concerned village secretariat and enquire about the NTR Jala Siri Scheme application procedure.
• Obtain the application form, if applications are being accepted, and provide the required personal, agricultural and landholding details.
• Attach the documents required by the concerned authority.
• Submit the completed application at the village secretariat.
• Collect an acknowledgement or reference for the submitted application, if one is issued.

How to Apply Online

• An online application facility is not available for the NTR Jala Siri Scheme at present.
• The NTR Jala Siri Scheme Application Forms link on the official portal was not opening at the time of writing.
• Farmers should contact their village secretariat for more details.

What Happens After the Application Is Submitted

• The Village Revenue Officer verifies the application for eligibility.
• The Village Revenue Officer forwards eligible applications to the Assistant Project Director, District Water Management Agency.
• The Assistant Project Director sends the application to the drilling agency for a groundwater survey.
• The drilling agency conducts the groundwater survey and sends the result back to the Assistant Project Director.
• The Assistant Project Director generates the estimate and sends it to the Project Director, District Water Management Agency, for administrative sanction.
• The Project Director obtains administrative sanction from the District Collector.
• The drilling agency starts drilling on administratively sanctioned proposals.
• After drilling, the work is measured, checked, and superchecked by the Technical Assistant, Engineering Consultant or Junior Engineer, Assistant Project Director and Additional Project Director.
• Bills are submitted for payment through the Comprehensive Financial Management System and the Pay and Accounts Office.

Relevant Links

• Andhra Pradesh NTR Jala Siri Portal
• Andhra Pradesh NTR Jala Siri Scheme Mobile App.
• Andhra Pradesh NTR Jala Siri Old Phase II Notice
• NTR Jala Siri Mobile App Details
• Andhra Pradesh State Institute of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj

Contact Information

• For more details, contact the nearest Village Secretariat Office.