Telangana plans Army engineers’ deputation for major irrigation works

The Telangana government plans to engage Army officers on deputation for work on the Srisailam Left Bank Canal tunnel and rehabilitation of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project barrages. Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy requested additional officers from the Army’s Corps of Engineers during a recent meeting with Chief of Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth in New Delhi.

The minister’s office said the Army chief responded positively. The Military Secretary’s Branch has offered three officers for selection: Lieutenant Colonel Satyadev Singh, Lieutenant Colonel Ranjit A. Menon and Lieutenant Colonel H.

V. Bhalla. The state government is likely to take all three on deputation.

One officer would supervise work at the two excavation fronts of the SLBC tunnel, including activity inside the tunnel near the excavation faces. The other two would be assigned to rehabilitation work at the Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla barrages. The government said the request reflected the technical complexity and strategic importance of the projects.

It also referred to the experience of Colonel Parikshit Mehra, who is already involved in the state’s irrigation works. About 35km of the approximately 44km SLBC tunnel has been completed, and the government has set June 2028 as the target for finishing the remaining work. It said geophysical investigations, ventilation and safety systems, documentation and field supervision were being incorporated into the project.

Investigations recommended by the National Dam Safety Authority into the three barrages are nearing completion. IIT Bombay and AFRY India are examining the findings and preparing designs for structural interventions.