Andhra Pradesh NTR Jala Siri Scheme

Summary of the Scheme
Name of Scheme	Andhra Pradesh NTR Jala Siri Scheme
Benefits	Free borewell drilling and eligible pump-set support.
Beneficiary	Eligible farmers in Andhra Pradesh.
Nodal Agency	Department of Panchayat Raj and Rural Development, Government of Andhra Pradesh.
Subscription	Subscribe here to get Update Regarding Scheme
Mode of Apply	Offline through the village secretariat.

Andhra Pradesh NTR Jala Siri Scheme: Free Borewells for Farmers Without Reliable Irrigation

Water decides whether a farmer can grow a second crop or even one good one. The NTR Jala Siri Scheme offers eligible Andhra Pradesh farmers free borewell drilling on suitable land, and small and marginal farmers can also get help with pump sets and electricity connections.

Check whether applications are open before you go. The source says the current application status hasn’t been independently confirmed. There is no online application, and the portal’s application forms link wasn’t opening when the source was written. Ask your village secretariat first.

What is the scheme?

The Department of Panchayat Raj and Rural Development runs it, with the District Water Management Agencies carrying out the work. It supports farmers who lack a reliable source of irrigation water.

It was introduced in phases. Phase II was approved in 2015 and extended to more districts in January 2016. In January 2017, the government approved solar or energy-efficient pump sets for 30,000 successful borewells.

Scheme at a glance

Benefits

• Free borewell drilling on suitable agricultural land with groundwater
• Free installation of pump sets and energisation for eligible small and marginal farmers, subject to conditions
• Solar or energy-efficient pump sets for successful borewells under the documented Phase II provisions
• Better groundwater access for irrigation, and less dependence on conventional electricity connections where solar pumps are feasible

Who is eligible?

From the scheme’s published application description:

1. You must be a farmer in Andhra Pradesh.
2. You should hold at least 2.5 acres and no more than 10 acres.
3. Farmers without 2.5 acres of contiguous land can apply as a group if together they hold at least 2.5 contiguous acres.
4. One borewell per family.
5. You should not already have a working borewell or tube well. An abandoned one on your land doesn’t disqualify you.
6. RoFR land holders in tribal areas are eligible.
7. Small and marginal farmers are eligible for free energisation and pump-set installation.

Not eligible: land in submergence areas, lanka lands, and revenue villages notified as over-exploited.

A farmer with more than 10 acres falls outside the stated land range. Confirm the latest rules with your village secretariat.

Documents

The source calls this list indicative, not an official checklist.

• Aadhaar or other accepted ID
• Land ownership records confirming agricultural landholding
• Land survey number and proposed borewell location
• Land or eligibility certificates, where applicable
• RoFR land document, for tribal-area applicants
• Bank account details, if the authority asks

How to apply

Online: not available at present.

Offline

1. Visit your village secretariat and ask about the application procedure and whether applications are being accepted.
2. Get the application form, if open, and give your personal, agricultural and land details.
3. Attach the documents the authority requires.
4. Submit it at the secretariat.
5. Collect an acknowledgement or reference, if issued.

What happens after you apply

1. The Village Revenue Officer verifies eligibility.
2. Eligible applications go to the Assistant Project Director, District Water Management Agency.
3. The drilling agency does a groundwater survey and reports back.
4. The Assistant Project Director prepares an estimate, and the Project Director gets administrative sanction from the District Collector.
5. The drilling agency drills on sanctioned proposals.
6. The work is measured and checked by technical officers, and bills are paid through the Comprehensive Financial Management System.

Where it stands in 2025-26

The 2025-26 Outcome Budget targets 6,667 borewells across 162 rural Assembly constituencies and 10,000 pump sets with accessories for small and marginal farmers. These are planned targets, not confirmed numbers delivered or proof that applications are open.

Related programmes

• YSR Jala Kala: launched in September 2020 and also offering free borewell drilling. The 2025-26 supplementary budget refers to a combined “NTR Jala Siri/Jala Kala Programme”, but no official order confirming one replaced the other has been identified.
• PM-KUSUM: the central solar-pump scheme, where the Centre generally provides 30% of approved cost, the state at least 30%, and the farmer the rest (possibly through a bank loan). The government hasn’t clearly announced the funding arrangement for solar pumps under NTR Jala Siri, and the source doesn’t confirm a merger with PM-KUSUM.
• Kisan Credit Card Yojana: financial support for agricultural expenses

Need help?

Contact the nearest Village Secretariat Office. The source lists no phone number or email.

Frequently asked questions

Can farmers with less than 2.5 acres apply?
Only as a group holding at least 2.5 contiguous acres together.

Can I apply if there’s an abandoned borewell on my land?
Yes.

Can a family get more than one borewell?
No. One per family.

Is it merged with PM-KUSUM?
The source doesn’t confirm that.

Is it the same as YSR Jala Kala?
Not confirmed. The 2025-26 budget uses a combined name, but no order confirms a replacement.

Can I apply online?
No. Apply offline through the village secretariat.