During his tour of Eluru district, Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan visited IS Jagannathapuram village to inspect a newly built Magic Drain, designed to solve long-standing drainage and wastewater problems in rural areas. He interacted with officials, asked about the construction method, number of layers used, depth, and overall effectiveness. To personally check its performance, he even poured a bucket of water from a nearby house into the drain and observed how it flowed.
Officials informed him that the drain was completed in just three days under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) with a construction cost of ₹77,173. The Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Department introduced the Magic Drain system to improve wastewater management in villages at a low cost.
The system works through a three-layer stone filter that absorbs wastewater into the ground, increases groundwater levels, reduces bad smell, mosquito breeding, pollution, and prevents water stagnation on roads. Every 50 meters, a soak pit is provided to help water seep into the soil more effectively. Compared to a regular cement drain that costs around ₹50 lakh per kilometer, the Magic Drain requires only about ₹7.5 lakh per kilometer, making it a highly economical solution.
Officials said the pilot project in Nandigama (Somavaram) was successful, leading to implementation in 106 villages across the state. Since IS Jagannathapuram is considered a sacred location, priority was given for construction here, and works are also underway in all villages of Dwarka Tirumala mandal.
Pawan Kalyan expressed satisfaction with the drain’s performance and directed officials to expand the system step-by-step to more villages across Andhra Pradesh, aiming for cleaner surroundings and better rural sanitation.