Date:23/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/23/stories/2008032356520300.htm

Andhra Pradesh

YSR to inaugurate tunnel bore machine

Correspondent

MAHABUBNAGAR: All is set for launching Tunnel Bore Machine (TBM) near Mannevaripally village in Achampet mandal on Sunday by Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy.

The spare parts of the boring machine were imported and assembled here by foreign experts. The tunnel boring machine will be used to dig a tunnel as a part of Srisailam Left Bank Canal (Alimineti Madhavareddy) project.

A 43.9 km long tunnel will be constructed at a cost of Rs. 1,925 crore which is expected to be completed in 44 months by Jayaprakash Company of Delhi.

A platform was constructed and tunnel boring machine was erected on it and all preparations were made to dig the hillock to construct the tunnel at SLBC tunnel-1c point at Devulatanda. The tunnel digging that starts at Devulatanda will end at Domalapenta near Srisailam reservoir.

Once completed, SLBC will irrigate 3 lakh acres in Nalgonda and 3,000 acres in Achampet madnal of Mahabubnagar district and also provide safe drinking water in fluoride affected villages of Nalgonda .