Telangana: Water pipeline stuck between rock, drain

Hyderabad: Work on a tunnel through which water pipelines will run at the JNTU junction in Kukatpally has been delayed because a layer of hard rock has been struck, which is making digging difficult. The work is part of the Water Board’s Rs 290-crore reservoir construction project.

The Water Board has been constructing reservoirs and connecting pipelines across the city; at a few places it has begun commissioning the reservoirs and water supply to new colonies.

The work has been taken up on a priority basis, without disturbing general traffic on the busy road. A similar tunnel was completed without cutting the roads at Nallagandla, under the road, and near Hyderguda on the Mumbai highway, and pipes of 1,000 mm diameter were laid at a depth of four metres. The proposed tunnel pipeline at the JNTU junction will be 60 metres long. Work on the tunnel began a month back and the deadline for completion is June.

So far the Water Board has dug five metres of the 60-metre long tunnel. Water from the Hydernagar reservoir will be supplied to KPHB Colony and its surrounding localities through this pipeline. The tunnel begins from the JNTU bus stand and ends at the KPHB service road.

Chief general manager projects, M. Yella Swamy said that while tunnels are usually laid at a depth of four metres, at JNTU the depth is five metres due to existing pipelines.

“The junction has a 450-mm diameter rain water drain and telecom and other cables which are an impediment for the tunnel work. There is also the delay due to the hard rock. But, we shall complete it by the deadline,” he said.