Twin tunnels of Kaleshwaram is ready

The gigantic twin tunnels, each stretching over a distance of 9.534 km, and forming one of the key components of the Rs 4,961 crore Package-6 of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme is ready for commissioning.The giant tunnels, built at a cost of Rs 1,200 crore, form a vital section of the 203 km long tunnel network being built to take Godavari water from Medigadda the main drawal point – to Mid-Manair by lifting it through a number of mega pump houses. 

The commissioning process that begins with pressure testing and dynamic flow testing in different operating conditions is scheduled for the last week of this month, Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao told Telangana Today.

The twin tunnels are designed to carry 2 tmcft every day from Yellampalli project to Nandi Medaram project from where the water will be channeled to Mid-Manair project. These tunnels are the last link of the main distributary system to support Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply System besides extending irrigation to seven districts in north Telangana, the Minister said.

The Yellamapalli project has a gross storage of 13 tmcft. The water available in the project as on today can also be released through the tunnels to meet any emergency situation in the command area once the flow test is conducted. The instrumentation processes of the tunnels are in full swing. The implementation agency has already begun withdrawal of machinery and equipment that has been devoted for tunnel work for some years now.The machinery engaged in tunnel boring, construction of side slopes, free board, bed fall and other components are gradually being moved out of the giant structure to facilitate dynamic flow test of water in the tunnels.