Hyderabad: State Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy urged officials on Friday to speed up work on the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel. He emphasized the project’s importance to the Congress government.
In a high-level meeting, the Minister shared that efforts to restart the project are underway. Soon, a meeting with Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka will be organized to gain support from the Finance, Energy, and related departments.
Uttam Kumar Reddy mentioned an expert committee was formed after a tunnel accident. The work is resuming based on their advice. He lamented that the unfinished 9-km tunnel section prevents the state from utilizing water from the bottom of the Srisailam reservoir naturally. This situation forces the state to spend approximately Rs 750 crore yearly on electricity to pump the water, impacting several areas, especially those affected by fluoride and tribal regions.
He noted that accessing water from the reservoir’s bottom means there’s no need to wait for the dam to fill, benefitting underdeveloped areas. “It’s unfortunate that such a crucial project is stalled over just 9 kilometers,” he said.
The government plans to use advanced technology for the project. The National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) will conduct an aerial electromagnetic survey using helicopters to map below the ground. “Helicopter surveys are crucial due to the tough terrain. This will help identify fault lines and structural issues,” he explained.
The remaining tunneling, approximately 10 km, will start immediately. The Geological Survey of India (GSI) will assist, and an aerial LIDAR survey will ensure accurate planning. Two distinct surveys will be conducted for different purposes. The project will be executed within the approved budget, maintaining quality and speed.
