Kaleshwaram project row: If found guilty, no one will be spared, warns Revenue Min Ponguleti
Speaking to the media in Mulugu, the minister said: 'There is no question of any political revenge in this issue. The Central commission is conducting the inquiry. After the Commission submits its report, the culprits will have to face the consequences. No matter who they are and what their status is, they will not be spared.'
'The previous BRS regime had projected the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme as the eighth wonder of the world. The Kalvakuntla family looted the state while pillars of the project caved in during the BRS regime itself,' he added.
'KCR, the self-declared 'father of Telangana', deposed before the PC Ghose Commission. None of the people who were involved in this scam will be excluded from this inquiry,' he further said.
Stating that Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy protected the Kaleshwaram project by taking up temporary repair works, he said: 'The flaws in the project design, defects in its execution and damage caused to its various components will be revealed once the Commission of Inquiry submits its report. Then the courts will deal with it as per law.'
'The Congress government will neither spare those responsible for Kaleshwaram scam nor those involved in phone-tapping, land-grabbing, and Mission Bhagiratha scams,' he added.
Earlier, Srinivas Reddy, along with Panchayati Raj & Rural Development Minister Danasari Anasuya alias Seethakka and MP P Balaram Naik, distributed sanction letters for Indiramma Housing Scheme beneficiaries at Incherla village in Mulugu district. They also laid the foundation stone for the construction of houses in the Indiramma Colony of the village.
Stating that the government had sanctioned 4.5 lakh Indiramma houses in the first phase across the state, he said that the highest allocation of 5,000 houses was made in the Mulugu Assembly constituency.
Later in the day, Srinivasa Reddy and Seethakka took part in the Bhu Bharathi Revenue Sadassulu programme at Govindaraopet village and interacted with the applicants.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
an hour ago
- Hans India
BRS leaders go into huddle to brainstorm on key issues
Hyderabad: BRS leaders including party Chief K Chandrashekar Rao, working president KT Rama Rao, T Harish Rao, G Jagadish Reddy came into a huddle at the farmhouse at Erravelli on Thursday in the wake of several political developments, including Supreme Court giving judgment on disqualification petition of MLAs and PC Ghose Commission giving its report. The meeting attains significance with the latest developments in the state. The party leaders are learnt to have discussed the report submitted by the PC Ghose Commission. With the reports coming in that the Commission had reportedly nailed the previous BRS government for the poor maintenance of the barrages, technical glitches and defects in the designs in the report, the BRS leaders discussed how to counter the government. Sources said that the party leaders felt that the government would take up the report in the Assembly. The BRS chief wanted the party leaders to prepare a counter report with clarification so that the leaders can put their argument in the Assembly. Sources also said that the BRS chief also discussed the BC Bill. The party leaders are planning to meet the President of India in support of the Bill and also hold a public meeting of BCs in Karimnagar on August 8. This is the second meeting in the farmhouse of KCR within the last three days. Sources said that the party leaders had discussed the Supreme Court judgment on the disqualification of the MLAs who have defected to the Congress party. The BRS chief during his earlier meeting called upon the party leaders and cadre to take up agitations at field level against the Banakacherla project taken up by the Andhra Pradesh government.
Hans India
2 hours ago
- Hans India
BRS hails SC's decision on defected MLAs; asks Rahul to speak his mind
Hyderabad: Welcoming the Supreme Court's decision, BRS (Bharat Rashtra Samithi) working president KT Rama Rao on Thursday demanded that the Assembly Speaker disqualify the BRS MLAs who shifted loyalties. He also urged Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to demonstrate his commitment to his 'PaanchNyay' by ensuring the disqualification of MLAs who defected to the Congress. Rama Rao asserted that the Supreme Court's judgment should be respected, and the Speaker should promptly disqualify the defected MLAs. He emphasised that Rahul Gandhi, who often speaks about constitutional values, must adhere to his own words regarding defections. 'There is no need for further inquiry. The Speaker should immediately disqualify the MLAs, paving the way for by-elections in 10 constituencies. The BRS cadre is ready to win these elections. Ultimately, truth and righteousness have prevailed,' said Rama Rao. KTR expressed his gratitude to the Supreme Court for upholding the country's democratic system, proving that the malicious methods adopted by some public representatives cannot undermine India's democratic foundations. He also alleged that the Congress party's attempts to mislead the courts had been thwarted, and truth had ultimately triumphed. KTR criticised the Congress for what he termed their 'unethical and anti-constitutional politics of defections,' using the Speaker's position, stating that the Supreme Court's verdict was a 'slap in the face' to such practices. Demanding the immediate implementation of the Supreme Court's order, KTR challenged Rahul Gandhi to prove his sincerity and commitment on this matter. He reminded Gandhi of his 'PaanchNyay', which advocated for automatic disqualification upon defection, and urged him to welcome the Supreme Court's decision. 'I hope Rahul Gandhi, who in his PanchNyay advocated for stronger anti-defection laws and automatic cancellation upon defection, will welcome this decision. I dare you to stand by your own preachings, Gandhi. And I hope you and your party don't use the honourable Speaker's position to make a mockery of the Indian constitution, any further,' KTR stated on X (formerly Twitter). KTR questioned the Congress party's opportunistic stance on defections, maintaining different standards when in opposition versus when in power. 'It doesn't need much investigation to accept that all these 10 MLAs switched to Congress illegitimately and have been participating in the official programmes every single day!' KTR emphasised in his tweet.
Hans India
2 hours ago
- Hans India
UGC cracks down on unrecognised int'l collaborations by HEIs, EdTech firms
Hyderabad: The University Grants Commission (UGC) recently took action against unrecognised collaborative agreements between Indian Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and foreign educational providers, including those facilitated by EdTech companies. This decision has caused concern among several students who have already enrolled in online courses. N. Vinit Kumar from Hyderabad, who has completed a in Computer Science, enrolled in the Cognitive Sciences program, taking credit courses in Cognitive Neuropsychology and Neurolinguistics. He aims to explore a multidisciplinary area that intersects perception, language, and artificial intelligence. 'It helps me understand the intricacies of Large Language Models and training,' he added. While SWAYAM and NPTEL do offer some courses, the specific interdisciplinary areas provided by foreign HEIs on EdTech platforms offer a competitive advantage. Srivalli S. from Visakhapatnam noted that she completed her BA in Mathematics and now wishes to branch out into Data Science and AI. However, the UGC directive has come as a shock for many students like her who cannot afford to pursue regular courses that require attendance in physical classes. The UGC directive follows an earlier notice dated December 12, 2023, relating to academic collaborations and foreign campuses under its 2022 and 2023 regulations. The UGC has observed a surge in unauthorised twinning, joint degree, and dual degree programs, some of which are promoted through misleading advertisements by EdTech firms via newspapers, social media, and television. 'These arrangements often involve institutions not approved by the Commission, resulting in degrees that hold no legal or academic validity within India,' it warned. The Commission further cautioned that such practices violate existing regulatory frameworks and pose a serious risk to students' academic and career prospects. Students enrolled in these programs are warned that the degrees obtained through these collaborations are not recognised, and any investment in such programs is made at their own risk. Furthermore, the UGC stated that legal action will be initiated against defaulting HEIs and EdTech entities under applicable laws and regulations. Institutions found to be complicit may face penalties ranging from derecognition to legal prosecution. The Commission emphasised the importance of academic integrity and urged all stakeholders to uphold standards that align with national education policies. As part of its regulatory mission, the UGC continues to monitor education-related partnerships to ensure that Indian academic institutions maintain credibility and offer quality-assured programs. 'The move also aims to curb the commodification of education and protect students from misleading international affiliations that lack academic merit.' However, at the same time, there is not a single state university in Telangana or Andhra Pradesh that offers even basic courses such as History of Science. This absence makes it difficult for students to comprehend how different branches of science have evolved over the past 100 years. Speaking to The Hans India, a former senior official of the erstwhile Telangana State Council of Higher Education (TSCHE), now reconstituted as TGCHE, said, 'There are several courses available in the Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, as well as Science and Technology streams, but students are not gaining foundational knowledge. This lack of foundation leaves them confused in making informed decisions about choosing courses at the intersection of Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, Sciences, and Technology.'
