Italy team to repair Veligonda tunnel

Italy team to repair tunnel
M.Ilyas
Ongole, Aug. 13: An expert team from Italy will inspect the first tunnel of the Pula Subbaiah Veligonda project to resolve the incessant seepage in the tunnel at Kotturu in the next week.
Tunnel digging works were stopped for the last 10 months due to natural water flow with mud and loose soil in the tunnel, and project authorities tried various ways to stop the leakage but their efforts proved futile.
Two tunnels were started to get water from Kollamvagu of Srisailam to fill the Veligonda project but the first tunnel works were stopped on 17 December 2009 due to the problem.
A team of engineers from Germany came but failed earlier.
Recently, the state government placed Veligonda in the first priority list under 39 Jalayagnam projects of the state. The government also paid Rs 363.38 crore for forest land for tunnel digging works. Besides leakage, pending bills have also been obstacles for the project.