The Rs 38,500-crore mega project of Pranahita-Chevella taken up to irrigate 16.5 lakh acres in the Telangana region has been given six out of 18 mandatory clearances by the Centre.
These clearances, all secured from Central Water Commission, relate to issues of hydrology, inter-state Soil & Material Research Station (a wing of CWC), Central Groundwater Board, construction machinery and consultancy and agriculture (Agriculture Ministry).
Disclosing this at a meeting on engineering geology and geological hazards of irrigation projects organised by Indian Society of Geology here on Friday, J. Satyanand, chief engineer, Pranahita-Chevella, said the project was likely to get four more clearances shortly covering tribal welfare, irrigation plan, project cost and forest displacement.
S. K. Wadhawan and S. Balakrishna, deputy directors-generals, Geological Survey of India, sought efforts to strengthen geological studies and stressed the need for undertaking surveys for al the tunnels planned as part of the irrigation projects to test the earth strata.
Mr Satyanand said the cavity that occurred to the stretch of the tunnel planned for Pranahita-Chevella following collapse of the roof at Ramaram in Karimnagar district was being rectified using concrete reinforced by steel ribs. It would be filled by mud on the top.
The project’s canal, envisaged with a length of 1,055 km, would have tunnels at several places cumulatively measuring 209 km. The strata of alignment of these tunnels thoroughly investigated before the tunnelling work was commenced. However, a bit of shear/faulty zone was detected at Ramaram. The cavity was being filled on the advice of the GSI only.
