Hyderabad: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy have reaffirmed their government’s commitment to completing the SLBC project within two years, leveraging advanced scientific methods to deliver sustainable irrigation and water supply across Telangana.
Launching the VTEM Plus helicopter-borne electromagnetic survey at Mannevaripally, the Chief Minister said the Congress government aims to finish the decades-old Srisailam Left Bank Canal Tunnel-1 with unmatched precision.
Government prioritises data-driven SLBC project strategy
Uttam Kumar Reddy said the SLBC project, which began in 2004–05 after being sanctioned in 1983, will provide irrigation to 3 lakh acres and safe drinking water to 30 lakh people. Of its 42-kilometre tunnel, 9.8 kilometres remain incomplete.
“The VTEM Plus survey brings a new era of science-based planning to the irrigation sector,” said the Minister. He noted that NGRI’s technology can detect geological features up to 1,000 metres deep, helping engineers anticipate risks and strengthen tunnel design.
The survey, flown over a 44-kilometre stretch, will produce 3D geological maps for tunnel alignment and drainage planning. The processed data, handled by NGRI experts in Hyderabad, will support a three-dimensional model of the entire SLBC corridor.
Once operational, the tunnel will channel over 30 TMC of water annually from the Srisailam reservoir through a gravity-flow system. It will reduce electricity expenditure by nearly Rs 500 crore every year and end dependence on lift irrigation.
The government has also engaged retired Lt. Gen. Harpal Singh and Col. Parikshit Mehra from the Indian Army for expert supervision. Their involvement is intended to uphold global safety and efficiency standards in execution.
“The SLBC project reflects our broader policy of using science and expertise to ensure equitable water distribution,” Uttam Kumar Reddy said. He added that the project’s completion will help Telangana secure its rightful Krishna River allocation.
The Minister stressed that collaboration among scientists, engineers, and administrators defines Telangana’s irrigation strategy. “If we fail to finish it now, we may lose the chance forever,” he said, highlighting the government’s urgency.
