Hyderabad

TheTelangana government is considering the deputation of three officers from the Indian Army's Corps of Engineers for the SLBC tunnel project and the repair and rehabilitation of three Kaleshwaram barrages.

Telangana Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy recently met Chief of the Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth in New Delhi and requested the deputation of experienced Army engineers to the state.

Reddy explained the technical complexity and strategic importance of the Srisailam Left Bank Canal tunnel and the repair and rehabilitation of the Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla barrages of the Kaleshwaram project, his office said in a release here on Tuesday. Following the meeting, the Military Secretary's Branch of the Integrated Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence offered three officers for selection by the Telangana government—Lt Col Satyadev Singh, Lt Col Ranjit A Menon and Lt Col H V Bhalla, the release said.

The state government is likely to take all three officers on deputation and deploy them on its technically challenging irrigation projects, it said.

The release said Reddy, a former Indian Air Force officer, shares an institutional bond with General Dhiraj Seth as both are alumni of the National Defence Academy at Khadakwasla in Pune.

"As a former military officer, I have the highest regard for the professional standards, knowledge, integrity, discipline and problem-solving abilities of Armed Forces personnel. Military officers are trained to perform in difficult terrain, disaster situations and highly challenging operational environments. They combine technical competence with leadership, accountability and a mission-oriented approach," Reddy said.