SLBC Tunnel Work Resumption Plans Gather Pace

This was announced by irrigation minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy at a meeting with senior irrigation department officials to discuss the way forward on the project, where work was stopped after the February 22 collapse in the inlet side of the tunnel along the backwaters of the Srisailam reservoir in Nagarkurnool district in which eight workers were killed.

The minister directing officials to fast-track resumption of work on the tunnel project, which he said was a “very high priority” for the government, added that a meeting to be chaired by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, and Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka will be held shortly to secure clearances and support from the finance, energy and other related departments.

Of the nearly 44 km long tunnel, just around 10 km is yet to be dug, and the rest of this work is expected to be taken up using the traditional drill and blast method. One tunnel boring machine that got buried in the accident has been removed in bits and pieces while a second machine, working from the outlet end of the tunnel in Nalgonda district, has been decommissioned in view of fears over a similar accident.

Uttam Kumar Reddy recalled that an expert committee was constituted after the tunnel accident and that work was being resumed based on its recommendations. Once the project is complete, he said, drinking and irrigation water can be supplied to several regions, especially tribal and fluoride-affected areas in Nalgonda district.