Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy today inspected a helicopter and advanced equipment at Mannevaripalli in Nagarkurnool district, marking the launch of a helimagnetic geophysical survey aimed at reviving the long-pending Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel project.

The survey, being conducted under the supervision of scientists from the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI), will use a helicopter-mounted transmitter to collect geological data up to a depth of 1,000 metres.

Officials briefed the Chief Minister that the high-tech study will help identify underground shear zones and water flow paths critical for tunnel excavation.

Speaking to the media after the inspection, the Chief Minister recalled that the SLBC project, aimed at drawing 30 TMC of water to irrigate three lakh acres, was sanctioned in 1983, with work on Tunnel-1 and Tunnel-2 initiated in 2004 during the tenure of late Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy.

He said the project was initially sanctioned for Rs 1,968 crore, and a tunnel boring machine was deployed for the first time in India for this purpose.

Revanth Reddy criticised the previous BRS government, stating that former Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) and former Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao failed to complete even 10 km of the tunnel in a decade, leaving the project neglected due to “political malice.”

“If this 40-km tunnel is completed, Telangana will achieve a world record. Earlier, it could have been completed at a cost of Rs 2,000 crore, but now it requires around Rs 4,600 crore due to cost escalation,” he said, adding that his government is determined to finish the work “under any circumstances.”

He also accused the previous regime of spending Rs 1.86 lakh crore on irrigation works, including Rs 1.05 lakh crore on the Kaleshwaram project, while failing to secure Telangana’s rightful share of Krishna waters.

“Because of their negligence, Krishna water is being diverted to Andhra Pradesh. We are fighting in the tribunal to secure our share,” the Chief Minister said.

Expressing grief over the death of eight workers during the tunnel work, Revanth Reddy assured that their families would be supported and that the project would be completed responsibly.

He said Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy was coordinating with Army engineers to expedite progress.

The Chief Minister pledged to resolve the flooding and rehabilitation issues faced by families in Marlapadu, Keshya Thanda, and Nakkalagandi Thanda by December 31, reiterating his government’s commitment to complete the project for the benefit of Nalgonda and Mahabubnagar districts.

R&B Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, several MLAs, and senior officials accompanied the Chief Minister during the inspection.