Finally, there appears to be light at the end of the tunnel for the much-delayed Handri Neeva Sujala Sravanthi (HNSS) project, as the crucial tunnel work forming part of the Punganur Branch Canal (PBC) under the Package 59A gains pace.
It was the dream project of former Chief Minister N.T. Rama Rao, who had laid the foundation stone for it in the mid-80s. Similar stones had been laid by his successors, but the project got stuck due to a variety of reasons.
After taking over the State’s reins, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu started reviewing the project on a weekly basis, thus keeping the district officials, the executing team of engineers, and even the Irrigation Minister on their toes.
The PBC, forming a vital part of the second phase, is all set to be ready by August-end.
The 2.5-km-long tunnel between Katlatapalli and Ramireddygaripalle passes through a quartzite granite hillock.
Of the 2.5-km, the tunnel has already been dug to a distance of 1,363 metres. The work is progressing at the rate of 16 metres involving two blasts per day. In all, 200 workers are engaged in the mammoth task.
The tunnel shortens the canal’s distance by 2.5 km and also obviates the need to take it closer to Madanapalle town, which involves higher compensation cost.
The diameter of the tunnel is six metres, while water flow will be up to 3 metres high.
“Around 200 km of running distance out of the 227 km in the PBC has been completed and water flow can be ensured by September,” said Executive Engineer P.V. Rami Reddy.
Work on KBC
Similarly, Kuppam Branch Canal (KBC), aimed at taking water to the tail-end Kuppam, starts at Appinapalli in Peddapanjani mandal, which is also progressing at a brisk pace. This stretch is meant to irrigate 6,300 acres in 127 villages, besides filling 110 irrigation tanks to support tank-based irrigation.
Buoyed by the State’s decision to extend the project up to Kuppam, the farmers volunteered to hand over a whopping 2,000 acres required for the stretch, making it a unique feature.
Though this KBC job is scheduled to take two years, the officials are keen on completing it within nine months, which, when realised, will become another ‘first’ for the project.
