Hyderabad, Aug. 8 -- Telangana Irrigation Minister Capt N Uttam Kumar Reddy today directed officials to fast-track the long-pending Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel works, declaring the project a top priority for the Congress government as it holds the key to ensuring water security for parts of Telangana.
At a high-level review meeting with department officials, the Minister expressed concern that the incomplete 9-km tunnel stretch was preventing the state from drawing water from the bottom of the Srisailam reservoir through gravity, forcing the government to spend about Rs 750 crore annually on power to lift water. "Such a crucial lifeline is stuck for just 9 kilometres of work. The delay is unacceptable," he said.
The SLBC proje...