- Helicopter-borne VTEM Plus survey to fast-track 44-km tunnel work
- Government integrates science, engineering, and military expertise in irrigation
Hyderabad, Nov 3 (Maxim News): Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister Capt. N. Uttam Kumar Reddy said Telangana has entered a new era of science-led irrigation with the launch of the helicopter-borne VTEM Plus electromagnetic survey for the Srisailam Left Bank Canal Tunnel-1 (SLBC) project. Speaking at Mannevaripally in Achampeta mandal of Nagarkurnool district, he said the scientific approach would enable the government to complete the project within two years and deliver irrigation and drinking water benefits to millions across Nalgonda and Mahabubnagar districts.
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, along with Ministers Uttam Kumar Reddy and Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, formally launched the survey. The Chief Minister personally observed the first sortie and reviewed the operation from the air, reaffirming the government’s determination to complete the long-delayed project. The minister explained that SLBC was designed to irrigate 3 lakh acres and supply drinking water to nearly 30 lakh people. Initiated in 1983 and commenced in 2004–05, the project’s estimated cost grew from Rs 2,000 crore to almost Rs 4,000 crore.
Uttam Kumar Reddy said 9.8 kilometres of the 42-kilometre tunnel remain incomplete due to a collapse in February 2025. “This survey marks the start of a renewed scientific approach. With accurate geological mapping, we will ensure safe and timely completion within two years,” he stated. He explained that the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) is executing the aerial survey using Canada’s VTEM Plus system, which detects subsurface conditions up to 1,000 metres deep. Data from low-flying helicopters will help identify rock faults, water pockets, and mineral variations to guide construction.
He added that the three-day study will generate 3D resistivity and conductivity maps, which engineers will use to align and strengthen the tunnel. Processed data will form a precise geological model of the corridor. “The combination of aerial precision and scientific analysis will guarantee safety and speed,” he said. The SLBC, once operational, will draw over 30 TMC of water annually from the Srisailam reservoir, replacing high-cost lift irrigation and saving nearly Rs 500 crore annually in electricity.
To ensure technical excellence, the government has roped in the Army’s Corps of Engineers. Retired Lt. Gen. Harpal Singh has been appointed as an advisor, while Col. Parikshit Mehra, known for his role in Rohtang and Brahmaputra tunnelling projects, will supervise construction. Their expertise, Uttam said, will ensure that global safety and engineering standards are maintained. “If we cannot complete this project now, the opportunity may be lost forever,” he noted, underscoring the urgency to secure Telangana’s water rights.
Adding that the SLBC tunnel will be one of Asia’s most complex irrigation tunnels built from both ends without intermediate access, Uttam Kumar Reddy called it a merging of science, policy, and precision engineering. “The SLBC tunnel will stand as a symbol of Telangana’s self-reliance in irrigation,” he declared, describing it as a lifeline for the rural heartland of southern Telangana. (Maxim News)
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