Water on the way

2007 Apr 03

A long-awaited scheme that will provide safe drinking and irrigation water for thousands of people in India has finally begun. Crucial reparation work is advancing well, despite difficult ground conditions.

Nalgonda is one of the poorest and drought-prone districts in the Indian state of Andra Pradesh, and its groundwater contains naturally occuring fluoride at levels high enough to cause widespread disease. After a series of delays, a scheme to provide safe water supplies has now begun.

The project involves the construction of a tunnel and canal that will carry water from Srisailam Reservoir to the plains of Nalgonda, as well as the building of a reservoir. When complete, it will irrigate 1,200 square kilometres of farmland and bring clean, safe water to 516 villages.

The 44 km long, 10 m dia. tunnel will be excavated using two tunnel boring machines and will have a finished diameter of 9.2 m after prefabricated concrete segments have been installed.

Epiroc operated under the trademark “Atlas Copco” prior to January 1, 2018.