Monthly Budget Allocation for Completion of SLBC Project: Bhatti

Hyderabad: Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka has reaffirmed the State government’s commitment to completing the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel project and assured the allocation of monthly budget to ensure steady progress of the project.

Bhatti Vikramarka along with Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy, Roads and Buildings Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy and Legislative Council Chairman Gutha Sukender Reddy on Friday visited the 40 km underground tunnel, which is being built below Amrabad reserve forest from the Srisailam reservoir for bringing 30 TMC water from Srisailam dead storage to the combined Nalgonda district. Later, he held a review meeting with officials and directed them to complete the project in a stipulated period.

On the occasion, Vikramarka stated that if 400 meters of the tunnel are dug each month, Rs.14 crore would be required, and the project could be completed within 20 months. However, if more than 400 meters are excavated, the government is prepared to release additional funds proportionate to the work completed.

He emphasised that the government is determined to complete the SLBC project within two years, which will benefit the Nagar Kurnool and Nalgonda districts by providing ample irrigation and drinking water.

Bhatti Vikramarka criticised the negligence of the previous administration, which, despite having a Rs.1,000 crore budget for the project, failed to make any significant progress. Due to their lack of action, the cost of the project has now ballooned to Rs.4,000 crore, placing a heavy burden on the state's finances, he pointed out.

The Deputy Chief Minister recalled his role as CLP leader, alongside the efforts of former PCC presidents Uttam and Revanth Reddy and another leader Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, in applying pressure on the then government to push the SLBC tunnel project forward.

He also mentioned the mismanagement of other projects like Kaleshwaram, where Rs.1 lakh crore was spent without results, while the focus on projects like Palamuru, which are crucial for Telangana, was neglected.

Bhatti Vikramarka pointed out that in the past ten years, no water has been provided to even a single acre of land despite the promises.

He stated that if the irrigation projects initiated by the Congress during its tenure had been completed, the State would have seen significant agricultural prosperity.

Bhatti Vikramarka emphasized that Telangana was created by Sonia Gandhi to address the State's water issues. However, the previous government abandoned ongoing projects under the guise of re-designing them, looting public funds and pushing the state treasury into a debt of Rs. 7 lakh crore, he criticised.

"The State government has taken a policy decision to prioritise projects based on their completion timeline—whether six months, a year, two years, or five years—and allocate necessary funds accordingly," Bhatti added.