CM Jagan to inaugurate ‘Owk Tunnel 2’ today

Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy will dedicate the ‘Owk Tunnel 2’ to the people near Mettupalli, Nandyal district on Thursday, by releasing 20,000 cusecs of water from the Gorakallu reservoir to the Owk reservoir. The Jagan Government has embarked on a transformative initiative, YSR Jalayagnam, to provide drinking water and irrigation facilities benefitting lakhs of farmers.
Fulfilling the long-cherished aspiration of the Rayalaseema people, the first and second tunnels of the Owk project, an integral component of the Galeru Nagari Sujala Sravanthi project, have been completed at a cost of Rs 567.94 crore. Construction and other ancillary works worth Rs 934 crore have also been completed for Owk Tunnel-3. Thereby, total works worth Rs 1,501.94 crore have been completed.
According to the Irrigation officials, Owk Tunnel 2 will ensure extension of irrigation facilities to 1.5 lakh acres under Srisailam Right Bank Canal, additional water supply of 1 TMC per day to Gandikota, Vamikonda, Sarvaraya Sagar, Mylavaram, and Paidipalem reservoirs under the Galeru Nagari Sujala Sravanthi scheme, irrigation facility to 2.60 lakh acres in united Kadapa, Chittoor, and Nellore districts, stabilisation of 1.3 lakh acres of ayacut, and drinking water to 20 lakh people in 640 villages.
On the other hand, works on Owk Tunnel 3 are progressing at a brisk pace. In the backdrop of dwindling flood days in Krishna river, facility is being created to swiftly transfer an additional 10,000 cusecs of water beside the present 20,000 cusecs, thereby increasing the total capacity to 30,000 cusecs by constructing Owk Tunnel 3 at a cost of Rs 1,297. 78 crore. Works worth Rs 934 crore have already been completed for Owk Tunnel 3, distributaries and other ancillary works. Of the total 5.801-km length of the tunnel, 4.526 km is ready.
The key features of Owk Tunnel 1 and 2 are completion of a flood canal with a capacity of 20,000 cusecs from Gorakallu to an extent of 60 km, followed by tunnel excavation works. Overcoming all obstacles, lining works along with the construction of 180 meters of tunnel in the fault zone are complete. Cement concrete lining works in right and left tunnels are also done. This will allow an additional 10,000 cusecs of water to be supplied to Rayalaseema. Gandikota reservoir can be filled in just 15 days through Galeru-Nagari flood canal. Rayalaseema will receive 2 TMC of water per day at the rate of 20,000 cusecs during the flood season in Srisailam reservoir