Estimated to have been built at a cost of ₹10,010 crore, the first tunnel was completed in November 2021 and the second one in January 2024.
Andhra CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Wednesday, 6 March, inaugurated the twin tunnels of the Pula Subbaiah Veligonda project in Prakasam district, which will irrigate 4.5 lakh acres and supply drinking water to more than 15 lakh people.
Estimated to have been built at a cost of ₹10,010 crore, the first tunnel of the project was completed in November 2021 and the second one in January 2024.
“The completion of the Veligonda project’s twin tunnels is a remarkable achievement. This project will bring much-needed water to the drought-stricken and fluoride-affected upland areas in 30 mandals, spanning Prakasam, Nellore and Kadapa districts,” said Jagan Mohan Reddy, addressing a meeting.
“For decades, this project was a dream, and today, seeing its completion fills me with immense joy and gratitude. This is a testament to the incredible engineering effort behind this project,” Reddy added.
Paying tributes to his father and former chief minister YS Rajasekhar Reddy (YSR), Jagan Mohan Reddy observed that the Veligonda project was initiated by the former back in 2004.
The tunnels were laid by bore machines digging their way through the Srisailam-Nagarjunasagar Tiger Reserve forest at a depth of 500 metres, on average, from atop the hills to a distance of 18.82 km.
Terming the inauguration as a fulfilment of his father’s vision, the chief minister dedicated the tunnels to the nation.
“The project envisages a drawing of 43.50 TMC flood water of Krishna river from the foreshore of Srisailam project reservoir through Kollam Vagu (upstream of Srisailam reservoir) by twin tunnels by gravity and thereafter to impound in the Nallamala Sagar Reservoir through a feeder canal,” said the state government in a press release.
The water source for Veligonda is the foreshore of Srisailam Reservoir through Kollam Vagu. Veligonda is expected to supply irrigation water to 4,47,300 acres and drinking water to 15.25 lakh people in 30 mandals of Prakasam, YSR Kadapa and Nellore districts.
“The Stage-I canal distributary will provide irrigation facilities to 1,19,000 acres and drinking water to a 4 lakh population in Prakasam district. The Stage-II canal distributary will provide additional irrigation facilities to 3,28,300 acres and drinking water to an 11.25 lakh population in the Prakasam, Nellore and Kadapa districts,” the state government said.
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