Process to resume SLBC tunnel works begins, Minister Uttam stresses urgency and technical precision

Hyderabad, August 8: Irrigation, Food & Civil Supplies Minister Capt N Uttam Kumar Reddy on Friday directed officials to fast-track the resumption of works on the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel, calling the project a “very high priority” for the Congress government.

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At a high-level review meeting at Dr B.R. Ambedkar Telangana Secretariat, the Minister said the process to restart works had already been set in motion. A meeting with Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka would be held shortly to secure clearances and support from the Finance, Energy and other related departments.

Uttam Kumar Reddy recalled that an expert committee was constituted after the tunnel accident and that work was being resumed based on its recommendations. He expressed regret that the incomplete 9-km stretch of tunnel was stopping the State from drawing water from the bottom of the Srisailam reservoir through gravity. This was forcing the government to spend nearly ₹750 crore annually on electricity to lift the water, affecting several regions, especially tribal and fluoride-affected areas.

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“The fact that we can bring water from the bottom of Srisailam means we don’t even need to wait for the dam to fill. It would serve some of the most backward areas. It is unfortunate that such a crucial lifeline is stuck for just 9 kilometres of work,” he said.

The Minister said the government had decided to proceed comprehensively and with advanced technology. As the first step, the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) would conduct an aerial electromagnetic survey, using helicopter-mounted equipment capable of mapping up to one kilometre below ground level. “Helicopter surveys are necessary because of the difficult terrain and there’s no other practical way to get this data. This will also give us a good idea of the fault lines and structural challenges,” he explained.

The remaining tunnelling operations, covering nearly 10 km, would be resumed immediately. The Geological Survey of India (GSI) would also be involved, and an aerial LIDAR survey would be conducted to ensure precise planning. Therefore, there would be two surveys with different objectives. He said the project would be executed within the estimated cost approved by the state cabinet, with no compromise on quality or speed.

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The Minister said that, after nearly three decades, promotions and transfers in the Irrigation Department had been carried out in a completely transparent and efficient manner. Those promoted including Executive Engineers to Superintending Engineers – 47 members; Assist EEs to Dy EEs – 127 and SEs to CEs – 13 members. He said it was after 33 years that promotions for all categories were done on regular scale and regular basis. He stressed that the process was based solely on merit and seniority, with no scope for favouritism. Urging all department staff to remain focused on their duties, he called on them to extend full cooperation in enabling the government to complete all pending irrigation projects on priority.

Review on Singur Dam:

The Minister said an expert team had been dispatched to assess Singur Dam and recommend urgent safety measures to prevent mishaps. He instructed that sandbags and other reinforcements be placed wherever necessary. With the monsoon active, he ordered all dams, reservoirs, barrages and other water bodies to be closely monitored, stressing there should be no negligence and that there must be complete clarity on threat perception. He also said procedural or technical delays in implementing preventive measures would not be tolerated.

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Review on Sammaka Sagar Project:

During the meeting, officials informed that the State government has received a detailed study from IIT-Kharagpur on the backwater effects in Chhattisgarh caused by the Polavaram Irrigation Project in Andhra Pradesh and the Sammakka Sagar Project, also known as the Tupakulagudem Barrage, in Telangana.

The Sammakka Sagar Project, located across the Godavari River near Thupakulagudem village in Eturnagaram mandal of Mulugu district, is a strategic component of Telangana’s border mission to enhance irrigation facilities, ensure water security, and promote agricultural sustainability, particularly in semi-arid and tribal regions.

According to the IIT-Kharagpur study, the water level at Sammakka Sagar Barrage during a high flood of 102,000 cumecs, considered a 500-year return period flood, will reach HFL 93 metres in non-virgin condition with the barrage in place. This would result in the submergence of approximately 10.9 square kilometres of land in Kotur, Tarlaguda, Gangaram, Kambalpeta and Sitangaram villages of Bijapur district in Chhattisgarh, covering agricultural, forest and government lands. Without the barrage, the water level under the same flood conditions would be HFL 90.87 metres, submerging around 10.5 square kilometres in the same area. The comparative analysis indicates that the construction of the barrage has increased submergence by 0.4 square kilometres, or about 40 hectares, in Chhattisgarh.

The Minister said that the State government would follow up to get the required NOCs from the Chhattisgarh government for the Sammakka Sagar Project.

The project has been conceived to stabilise 16.40 lakh acres of irrigated ayacut under the Devadula Lift Scheme and other existing systems, while storing and regulating 6.94 TMC of water for multipurpose use.

Construction of the barrage began in 2017 and was initially scheduled for completion in 2022, but progress was delayed for various reasons. The Minister said that the Congress government would complete the project at the earliest after securing clearances from Chhattisgarh. (Maxim News)

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