SLBC to enable use of dead stock water from Srisailam during drought: Komatireddy

Roads and Buildings Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy at a meeting in Nalgonda on Thursday.

Komatireddy Roads and Buildings Minister Venkat Reddy said the completion of the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel project would enable Telangana to draw water from the Srisailam Reservoir’s dead level and provide irrigation to farmers even during severe drought conditions.

Speaking before the newly constituted governing body of the Nalgonda Agricultural Market Committee on Thursday, he said the SLBC project was conceived at an estimated cost of ₹2,000 crore to solve the fluoride problem and provide irrigation facilities in the entire Nalgonda district.

The project remained on hold during the tenure of the previous government. The Congress government resumed the work after coming to power, but it was stopped again due to an accident. Work had recently resumed and was progressing at a brisk pace, he said.

Mr. Venkat Reddy said that the government is committed to make the entire district agriculturally prosperous through the SLBC project. He also pointed out that the Brahmana Vellamla project was started earlier during the Congress tenure and is currently providing irrigation to 35,000 acres.

MLC Shankar Naik, Nalgonda Mayor Burri Chaitanya Srinivas Reddy, former Municipal Chairman Srinivas Reddy, former ZPTC Member Gummala Mohan Reddy and Deputy Director Marketing Chaya Devi were among those present.

B. Hemalatha Venkat Reddy was sworn in as the Chairman of the Nalgonda Agriculture Market Committee while V. Srinivas Goud took over as the Vice-Chairman. The directors also administered the oath administered by Ms. Chaya Devi.

Published – 05 Nov 2026 19:42 IST