Cyclone Montha floods Veligonda project, restoration work under way

The devastating Cyclone Montha put the Pula Subbaiah Veligonda Project’s resilience to the test last month, when unprecedented floodwaters breached its Feeder Canal in the Nallamala forest region and inundated its two main tunnels.

According to official reports, the cyclone that struck the Dornal–Rollapenta belt on October 28 and 29 brought torrential rains that sent nearly 24,000 cusecs of water from the Y. Cherlopalli tank catchment into the Teegaleru Vagu, along with another 3,800 cusecs from the Dongalavagu. The combined inflows breached the Feeder Canal’s right bund near km 0.850, carving a gash 100 feet long and 30 feet deep, while washing away adjoining farmland. Around 50,000 cubic metres of silt and debris piled up along a 250‑metre stretch, forcing floodwaters back into the project’s twin tunnels.

Both Tunnel I and Tunnel II were inundated for nearly 10 kilometres, with water levels rising above the 250‑metre mark and an estimated 36.23 million cubic feet entering the shafts. Though the canal breach caused extensive damage, prompt action by engineers and rescue personnel averted loss of life. “About 250 workers engaged inside Tunnel II were safely evacuated via the Kollam Vagu route and ferried by boats to the Srisailam Dam,” officials said.

The government has directed officials to accelerate de‑watering operations, as flooding extended nearly 9 km into the tunnels. The engineering team has also been asked to clear revised designs for new concrete retaining walls to safeguard the canal against future floods. In addition, a technical committee has been constituted to retrieve the tunnel‑boring machine trapped inside Tunnel II, where 4.2 km of lining and benching work remains pending.

Restoration activity is under way. Five excavators have been deployed for large‑scale desilting, while two high‑capacity pumps continue to drain the tunnels. Authorities expect de‑watering to be completed by November 15, after which lining work will resume.

It may be recalled that Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu had laid the project’s foundation stone nearly three decades ago during his tenure as Chief Minister of the erstwhile united Andhra Pradesh. However, rehabilitation and compensation issues remain unresolved. Of the seven proposed colonies, only four have been completed so far.

To hasten progress, the State government has invited tenders for canal lining work and for constructing a 3‑km‑long retaining wall estimated at ₹456 crore. The project is now targeted for completion by 2026.