Country's Largest Water Tunnel Completed in Sleemanabad in Katni– A Feat by Madhya Pradesh Engineers
The country's largest water tunnel has been completed in Madhya Pradesh. Located in Sleemanabad, in the state's Katni district, the tunnel took approximately 17 years to build. Through this tunnel, the government will now supply irrigation water to thousands of villages across five districts.
Five Districts to Benefit from the Tunnel
The tunnel spans 12 kilometers in length. It will provide irrigation water to approximately 1,500 villages across five districts of the state. The construction of this—the country's longest water tunnel—cost around Rs 1,600 crore. Water will flow through the tunnel to the other side via gravity.
The Journey of Constructing the Tunnel Was Arduous
The geographical layout of Madhya Pradesh is such that the Narmada is known as the river flowing between two mountain ranges—the Satpura and the Vindhyachal. While the Narmada naturally flows towards the Satpura range, engineers used technical ingenuity to construct a tunnel through the Vindhya mountains, successfully channeling the Narmada's water to the other side of the range.
Excavating this tunnel over nearly two decades was an immense challenge. The tunnel frequently flooded, and expensive foreign machinery often broke down while cutting through the rock. There were even tragic instances where workers lost their lives. Yet, the team persevered and achieved a feat that stands in stark contrast to the ancient legends surrounding the river.
What Was the Legend?
The Narmada River is the lifeline of Madhya Pradesh. In mythology, it is revered as a 'virgin river' (Kumari Nadi). Legend has it that the Narmada and the Son rivers were once set to marry; however, due to certain circumstances, the Narmada became displeased with the Son and altered her course, flowing from east to west instead. Now, through modern technology and engineering, the Narmada's water is being diverted via the tunnel toward the Son river basin. That is why it is also being said that, moving beyond mythology, the Narmada is now connecting with the Son through technology.