Hyderabad: For speedy completion of the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) works and rehabilitation of the three Kaleshwaram barrages, the Telangana govt has engaged three additional officers from the Indian Army’s Corps of Engineers.
The Military Secretary’s Branch of the Integrated Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence has agreed to depute three officers Lt Col Satyadev Singh, Lt Col Ranjit A. Menon and Lt Col H. V. Bhalla. The state govt will utilise their services in its most technically challenging irrigation works. Telangana minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy recently met Chief of the Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth at his official residence in New Delhi and personally requested the deputation of experienced Army engineers to Telangana. He explained the technical complexity and strategic importance of the SLBC tunnel and the repair and rehabilitation of the three Kaleshwaram barrages-Medigadda, Sundilla and Annaram.
About 35 kilometres of the approximately 44-kilometre tunnel have already been completed. The Government has fixed June 2028 as the target for completing the remaining work.
Telangana will benefit immensely from the Armed Forces’ culture of completing every mission with precision, commitment and honour,” Uttam Kumar Reddy said. They combine technical competence with leadership, accountability and a mission-oriented approach,” Uttam Kumar Reddy said. The SLBC tunnel is among India’s longest and most technically demanding irrigation tunnels. Advanced geophysical investigations, reinforced ventilation and safety systems, continuous documentation and strict field-level supervision are being incorporated into its execution. Simultaneously, the Government is proceeding with the scientific rehabilitation of the three Kaleshwaram barrages. Investigations recommended by the National Dam Safety Authority, including soil, concrete and foundation tests, are nearing completion. IIT Bombay and AFRY India are examining the findings and preparing final designs for the required structural interventions. “The participation of army engineers will strengthen quality control, improve field-level coordination, accelerate decision-making and bring greater discipline and accountability to execution. “As a former military officer, I have the highest regard for the professional standards, knowledge, integrity, discipline and problem-solving abilities of Armed Forces personnel. Military officers are trained to perform in difficult terrain, disaster situations and highly challenging operational environments.