Hyderabad, Feb 20 (TNT): Telangana Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy on Saturday said works on the 44-km SLBC tunnel project have resumed, with about 20 metres of excavation completed in the past week from the Devarkonda (outlet) end, where construction had remained stalled for seven years.
Reviewing the progress with senior Irrigation Department officials at the Secretariat here, Uttam took stock of mobilisation of manpower and equipment, timelines for Tunnel-1 and Tunnel-2, and safety protocols being followed at the site.
He said seven excavation cycles had been completed from the Devarkonda side using advanced, observation-based tunnelling methods after shifting from Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) technology due to geological challenges.
Additional structural supports and precise drilling protocols were being adopted to ensure safety, he added.
Specialised equipment has been deployed to address ventilation and dewatering issues inside the tunnel.
Work from the inlet side at Srisailam/Domalpenta is expected to commence soon, with preparatory works including a 20-metre open cut and installation of additional safety systems already underway. Full-scale operations are likely to gather pace in a fortnight.
The project had come to a halt following a roof collapse near the inlet side on February 22, 2025.
Stressing that safety would not be compromised, the Minister directed officials to ensure round-the-clock work with strict adherence to protocols. The breakthrough is targeted by mid-2027, with full commissioning scheduled by June 2028.
The SLBC tunnel is intended to irrigate over three lakh acres in drought-prone areas of Nalgonda district and augment drinking water supply to fluoride-affected regions.
Senior officials, including Advisor (Irrigation and Water Resources) Aditya Nath Das, Secretary (Irrigation) Col Parikshit Mehra and Engineer-in-Chief (General) Ramesh Babu, attended the review meeting.
TNT KS
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