Telangana Plans Army Engineers for SLBC, Kaleshwaram Works

The Telangana government is exploring the deployment of Army engineers to assist with some of the state’s most technically challenging irrigation projects, including the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel and the restoration and repair of the Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla barrages of the Kaleshwaram project.

The state may take three officers from the Indian Army’s Corps of Engineers on deputation for these works. The proposal follows a recent meeting between Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy and Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth in New Delhi. The minister sought experienced Army engineers to support projects requiring specialised technical expertise and strong field-level supervision.

Uttam Kumar Reddy highlighted the engineering challenges involved in the SLBC tunnel and the rehabilitation of the three Kaleshwaram barrages. He said such works require personnel capable of handling difficult field conditions while maintaining close technical oversight.

Following the request, the Military Secretary’s Branch of the Integrated Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence proposed three officers for consideration by the Telangana government - Lieutenant Colonel Satyadev Singh, Lieutenant Colonel Ranjit A. Menon and Lieutenant Colonel H.V. Bhalla. Officials said the state may appoint them on deputation and assign them to the technically demanding irrigation works.

The minister, a former Indian Air Force officer, also shares an NDA, Khadakwasla connection with General Seth, with both having studied at the Pune-based academy. Uttam Kumar Reddy said he valued the technical expertise, discipline, integrity and problem-solving abilities of armed forces personnel, particularly their training to work in difficult geographical and emergency conditions.

The decision also draws on the government's experience with Colonel Parikshit Mehra, who has been working with Telangana on deputation for nearly two years. He has contributed to SLBC tunnel works and the planning of repairs and rehabilitation measures for the three Kaleshwaram barrages.

Under the proposed arrangement, one officer may oversee work at the two SLBC tunnel excavation sites, while the other two could be assigned to the Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla barrages.

The SLBC tunnel, one of India's longest irrigation tunnels, is planned to span around 44 km, with nearly 35 km completed. The government aims to finish the remaining work by June 2028.

Meanwhile, restoration efforts at the three Kaleshwaram barrages are continuing, with soil, concrete and foundation tests largely completed as recommended by the NDSA. Technical institutions, including IIT Bombay, are examining the results and preparing designs for necessary structural interventions.