Trial run of Brahmana Vellemla-Udaya Samudram put off once again

​Nalgonda: Even though Minister for Irrigation T Harish Rao directed the officials conducting trial run of lift irrigation scheme, Brahmana Vellemla -Udaya Samudram, by the end of March, incomplete tunnel work remains a hurdle.

The Irrigation officials postponed the trial run thrice so far. Harish Rao had earlier asked the officials to conduct trial run by December-end last year. Later it was put off to January this year.

This prestigious irrigation project, being constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 700 crores, has been designed to provide irrigation facility to one lakh acres and drinking water by filling the village ponds in the fluoride-affected areas of Nalgonda, Nakrekal, Munugodu and Tungaturthi Assembly constituencies. In fact, foundation stone for the project was laid a decade ago when Y S Rajasekhara Reddy. The work on the project has gathered momentum during the last four years. 

As per the design of the project, the water from Udayasamudram reservoir located at Pangal in Nalgonda town will be diverted to 0.3 tmc ft capacity reservoir constructed at Brahmana Vellemla village under Narketpally mandal through 6 km open canal and 10.82 km tunnel by gravity.

 From Brahmana Vellemla reservoir irrigation facility and potable water would be provided to the proposed 1 lakh acres in eight mandals and drinking water to 107 villages through its left and right canals.

After the formation of Telangana, the TRS government has modified the design and estimated cost of the project. Of the total estimated cost Rs 699.5 crore, as much as Rs 483.9 crore is for the construction of the project, and remaining amount for acquisition of required land.  

Chief Engineer AMRP (SLBC) Sunil speaking to The Hans India said Udaya Samudram - Brahmana Vellemla lift irrigation scheme tunnel work, which was to have been completed by March, was delayed due to the collapsing of 150-meter part of 10.89 km tunnel. The mishap happened due to loose soil. Experts inspected it and provided some valuable suggestions. He exuded confidence that the pending work of tunnel would be completed by July 15 at any cost. He promised to release water for this khariff season.