Forest clearance norms in focus as SLBC tunnel passes beneath Amrabad Tiger Reserve

The Srisailam Left Bank Canal tunnel project beneath the Amrabad Tiger Reserve faces uncertainty as the Forest Department has not been informed about the new tunnelling technology proposed by the State government. Following a February mishap that killed eight workers, tunnelling was suspended and an aerial electromagnetic survey was launched to study geological conditions.

Hyderabad: With the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel passing about 400 metres beneath the Amrabad Tiger Reserve, any change in tunnelling technology requires prior clearance from the union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

However, nearly two months after an aerial electromagnetic survey was launched, the Forest department remains unaware of the new technology proposed for the works.

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The lack of clarity has raised concerns as the tunnel alignment runs through protected forest land, making environmental permissions and impact assessments mandatory for any deviation from the earlier approved method.

Following the February mishap in which eight workers lost their lives after a tunnel collapse, the tunnel boring machine was suspended. On November 3, the State government initiated an aerial electromagnetic survey to study rock strata, loose soil, water pockets and mineral deposits, involving NGRI and other expert agencies.

Despite this, forest officials say no formal communication has been received from the Irrigation department or executing agencies on the revised tunnelling method. Any new technology, officials said, must be vetted by the Centre after assessing its impact on wildlife and the forest ecosystem.

“At present, we have no information on what technology is being proposed. As per ground reports, tunnelling is suspended,” a senior official said.

In the past, the State government had secured the requisite permissions from the Centre for taking up the tunnelling works. If the works were being executed without any violation of the permission accorded by the Centre, it was okay, the official said.

As long as the wildlife was not disturbed and the local ecosystem was not impacted, the department cannot interfere. Moreover, at present, the works taken up earlier were underground and did not impact the surface much, the official said, adding that however, the department had no idea of what was being proposed to be done now.

After the mishap in February, tunnelling works were suspended at the Domalpenta end in Nagarkurnool district. The tunnel boring machine was damaged and sludge clearing works were executed for a few days. Similarly, the tunnel boring machine works at the Deverkonda end in Nalgonda were also suspended for the last few months after the machine developed snags.

However, after the State government decided to take up the tunnelling works using advanced technology methods, as part of which the aerial survey was commenced, the forest department has been kept in the dark.