SLBC: Round-The-Clock Operations With Proper Safety Measures, Uttam Instructs

Hyderabad: Reiterating the government’s commitment to timely completion of critical irrigation infrastructure on the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC), irrigation minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy on Sunday directed round-the-clock operations at the SLBC tunnel, warning that delays or negligence would not be tolerated.

Dedicated planning teams will monitor daily and weekly progress, while tunnel safety supervisors from Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) will be deployed at site, the minister said at a meeting to review the outcome of the aerial electromagnetic (AEM) survey conducted for a section of the tunnel. The minister also discussed rehabilitation of the Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla barrages under the Kaleshwaram lift irrigation scheme (KLIS).

Uttam Kumar Reddy instructed that the remaining SLBC tunnel works be executed using scientific methodologies based on advanced tunnelling techniques and observational methods, ensuring continuous monitoring and adherence to international best safety practices. To strengthen project management, he announced the creation of an exclusive SLBC division, with orders to appoint a chief engineer (SLBC) to head operations. He directed the engagement of an independent supervision consultant (ISC) to assist the chief engineer in ensuring safety, quality and design compliance throughout construction.

The minister also ordered the establishment of specialised geotechnical and geological teams to perform daily assessments of ground behaviour and tunnel stability, enabling real-time decision-making and risk mitigation. He called for close coordination among technical institutions and design consultants to expedite rehabilitation works on the KLIS barrages.

Officials were directed to ensure that testing schedules of the Central Water and Power Research Station are closely aligned with the work of project designers, facilitating timely technical validation. This synchronisation, he said, would enable phased design approvals by the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) under the Central Water Commission (CWC), allowing rehabilitation works to progress swiftly and efficiently.