India's three-decades-old Srisailam Left Bank Canal project SLBC, previously known as the AMR project, has stalled due to reported non-payment of contractors. The deadline for completion of the 43.5 km-long Nalgonda and 18.8 km Veligonda TBM tunnels expired a month ago. Nalgonda will be the world's longest bored tunnel. The Srisailam dam, with a huge capacity 800 sq km reservoir and 1,670 MW electricity output, is key to power supplies in Andhra Pradesh state. The 240 m-high dam came under threat a year ago when record inflows were experienced from the Krishna river. For contract details visit www.coastalprojects.co.in/ProjectAwardedLookup.asp and for project background visit www.aponline.gov.in. Visit tunnelbuilder archive in/42 and in/45 for project history. 40/10.
