Hyderabad: The Telangana government planned an Army engineers deployment to strengthen SLBC tunnel works and rehabilitate three Kaleshwaram barrages. The government was considering three officers from the Indian Army’s Corps of Engineers for deputation. They were Lt Col Satyadev Singh, Lt Col Ranjit A. Menon and Lt Col H.V. Bhalla.
The Military Secretary’s Branch at the Integrated Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence offered the three officers for selection. Subsequently, the state government began considering their deputation for key irrigation projects.
The government was likely to take all three officers on deputation. They would work on some of Telangana’s most technically challenging irrigation projects. These included the Srisailam Left Bank Canal tunnel and rehabilitation of the Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla barrages.
Army engineers deployment proposed for key projects
The Army engineers deployment proposal followed Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy’s recent meeting with Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth in New Delhi. During the meeting, Uttam Kumar Reddy sought experienced Army engineers for Telangana on deputation. He briefed General Seth about the technical challenges involved in the SLBC tunnel project.
Moreover, the minister discussed repairs and rehabilitation of the three Kaleshwaram barrages. Following the meeting, Army Headquarters sent the names of three officers to the Telangana government for consideration. The proposal then moved forward for further action by the state.
Meanwhile, Uttam Kumar Reddy and General Seth shared an institutional connection through the National Defence Academy in Khadakwasla, Pune. Uttam Kumar Reddy trained in the Air Force stream before becoming a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force. In contrast, General Seth trained in the Army stream and later joined the Armoured Corps.
General Seth assumed office as the 31st Chief of the Army Staff on June 30, 2026. Uttam Kumar Reddy said his military background gave him high regard for the professional standards of Armed Forces personnel.
“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,” he said.
Furthermore, the minister said military officers received training to operate in difficult terrain, disaster situations and challenging environments. “They combine technical competence with leadership, accountability and a mission-oriented approach,” Uttam Kumar Reddy said.