Uttam urges officials to expedite SLBC tunnel works
At a high-level review meeting, the Minister said the process to restart works had already been set in motion. A meeting with Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka would be held shortly to secure clearances and support from the Finance, Energy and other related departments.
Uttam Kumar Reddy recalled that an expert committee was constituted after the tunnel accident and that work was being resumed based on its recommendations. He expressed regret that the incomplete 9-km stretch of tunnel was stopping the State from drawing water from the bottom of the Srisailam reservoir through gravity. This was forcing the government to spend nearly Rs 750 crore annually on electricity to lift the water, affecting several regions, especially tribal and fluoride-affected areas.
'The fact that we can bring water from the bottom of Srisailam means we don't even need to wait for the dam to fill. It would serve some of the most backward areas. It is unfortunate that such a crucial lifeline is stuck for just 9 kilometres of work,' he said.
The Minister said the government had decided to proceed comprehensively and with advanced technology. As the first step, the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) would conduct an aerial electromagnetic survey, using helicopter-mounted equipment capable of mapping up to one kilometre below ground level. 'Helicopter surveys are necessary because of the difficult terrain and there's no other practical way to get this data. This will also give us a good idea of the fault lines and structural challenges,' he explained.
The remaining tunnelling operations, covering nearly 10 km, would be resumed immediately. The Geological Survey of India (GSI) would also be involved, and an aerial LIDAR survey would be conducted to ensure precise planning. Therefore, there would be two surveys with different objectives. He said the project would be executed within the estimated cost approved by the state cabinet, with no compromise on quality or speed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Indian Express
4 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
India's defence production reaches all-time high of over Rs 1.5 lakh crore in 2024-25 fiscal
NEW DELHI: India's annual defence production has reached an all-time high of Rs 1,50,590 crore in 2024-25, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Saturday. This marks a growth of around 18 per cent over the previous fiscal's total of Rs 1.27 lakh crore. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India's defence production has hit a record high, Singh said. "The annual defence production has soared to an all-time high figure of Rs 1,50,590 crore in the financial year 2024-25. These numbers indicate a robust 18 per cent growth over the previous fiscal's output of Rs 1.27 lakh crore, and a staggering 90 per cent increase since 2019-20, when the figure was Rs 79,071 crore," he said in a social media post. The defence minister commended the "collective efforts" of the Department of Defence Production and all stakeholders, including the defence public sector units and the private industry, in achieving what he called a "landmark". "This upward trajectory is a clear indicator of India's strengthening defence industrial base," he said.
Time of India
11 minutes ago
- Time of India
Kerala govt spent Rs 13 lakh to invite football superstar Lionel Messi; he won't be coming: Report
The Kerala government had spent Rs 13 lakh on Sports Minister V Aburahiman 's visit to Spain in order to invite football superstar Lionel Messi , contradictory to earlier claims that no public money would be used, TOI reported. The minister was accompanied by Sports Department Secretary and Director of Sports and Youth affairs had said that it would "not cost a single rupee" to invite Messi to Kerala. Productivity Tool Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide By Metla Sudha Sekhar View Program Finance Introduction to Technical Analysis & Candlestick Theory By Dinesh Nagpal View Program Finance Financial Literacy i e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By CA Rahul Gupta View Program Digital Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Neil Patel By Neil Patel View Program Finance Technical Analysis Demystified- A Complete Guide to Trading By Kunal Patel View Program Productivity Tool Excel Essentials to Expert: Your Complete Guide By Study at home View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals Batch 2 By Ansh Mehra View Program However, Aburahiman recently confirmed that the football legend and the Argentinian team will not be visiting Kerala. The team had difficulties to travel to India in October, the only month the sponsors of the offered to host the event in. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cardiologist Reveals: The Simple Morning Habit for a Flatter Belly After 50! Lulutox Undo The minister had earlier said that Messi and the team would visit Kerala in October or November, adding that they would be treated as state guests with the government taking care of security, accommodation and logistics. Argentinian national team has a massive fan following in Malappuram and Kozhikode districts. It only grew stronger when the team, led by Messi, won the World Cup in 2022. Live Events Abdurahiman himself hails from Malappuram and had been actively working to bring Messi to the state. TOI sources suggest that there were political motivations behind the move with local body elections scheduled for December and assembly elections in April-May next year. Messi not visiting Kerala takes a political turn The issue has taken a political turn, with opposition Congress on Saturday urging the Kerala government to clarify its stance on the reported allegation of the Argentine Football Association (AFA) that the world champion team's visit to the state was cancelled because of the government's violation of contract norms. KPCC Chief Sunny Joseph and Congress Lok Sabha MP Shafi Parambil took a dig at the Left government in the state, saying the "Lionel Messi is missing". They sought an answer from the authorities. "The state government should give a reply in this regard because they are being accused in the matter. Lakhs of rupees have already been spent. Now, the AFA itself has made things clear. The people of the state should know the facts," he told reporters here. Sharing similar views, Parambil accused the CPI (M)-led government of misusing the football admirers' love for Messi and Argentina. "The attempt of the state government was to get the credit for bringing the Argentine football team. They cheated the people. Now, the AFA itself has made it clear that the state government has violated the contract," he said. It is the Pinarayi Vijayan government that should explain things and clarify their stand in the issue, the MP said adding that the authorities should not have "politically misused" the football fans' love and admiration towards Messi and Argentina team. (With TOI and agency inputs)
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
16 minutes ago
- Business Standard
State Bar Councils, BCI cannot charge 'optional' fee from new lawyers: SC
State Bar Councils or the Bar Council of India cannot collect any "optional" fee other than the statutory charge from law graduates enrolling as lawyers, the Supreme Court has said while asking the Karnataka State Bar Council to stop collecting any such amount. A bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan passed the direction on a contempt plea filed by K L J A Kiran Babu, alleging that directions issued by this court in July last year on not charging exorbitant fees from enrolling law graduates by state bar councils, especially the Karnataka State Bar Council are not being complied with in letter and spirit. The Bar Council of India, in its affidavit, said all state bar councils are complying with the directions of the court and the Rs 6,800 charged by the Karnataka State Bar Council for ID cards, certificates, welfare fund, and training, among others, and Rs 25,000 over and above the statutory fees are optional and not mandatory. "We make it clear that there is nothing like optional. No State Bar Council(s) or Bar Council of India shall collect any fees of any amount as optional. They shall strictly collect fees in accordance with the directions issued by this court in the main judgment," the bench said in its order passed on August 4. It further said that if the Karnataka State Bar Council is collecting any amount as optional, though it may not be mandatory, it must be stopped. During the hearing, the Bar Council of India chairman and senior advocate Manan Kumar Mishra stated that pursuant to the top court's July 2024 verdict, the council, being a statutory body, has written to all state bar councils on August 6 and directed them to strictly proceed with the enrolment of candidates in light of the judgment passed by this court. "That after issuance of the letter, the BCI has firmly believed that all the State Bar Councils are adhering and complying with the judgment passed by this court in the matter," the BCI said and gave a detailed chart of fees charged by different bar bodies of various states. On July 30 last year, the top court ruled that state bar councils cannot charge exorbitant fees for enrolling law graduates as lawyers, as it perpetuates systemic discrimination against marginalised and economically weaker sections, besides undermining their participation in the legal profession. The levy of exorbitant fees ranging from around Rs 15,000 to over Rs 40,000 by some state bar councils (SBCs) was "contrary to the principle of substantive equality", the top court had held, adding the SBCs and the Bar Council of India (BCI) cannot "alter or modify" the fiscal policy laid down by Parliament. It had said the bar bodies are delegates of powers under the Advocates Act, 1961 and SBCs and the BCI cannot charge more than Rs 750 and Rs 125 for enrolling law graduates from the general and SC-ST categories, respectively. The top court had said the decision of SBCs to charge fees and charges at the time of enrolment in excess of legal stipulation violated Article 14 (right to equality) and Article 19(1)(g) (right to practice a profession) of the Constitution. It had clarified that its decision would have "prospective effect" and SBCs were not required to refund the excess enrolment fees collected so far.
