Telangana govt to submit KLIP report to Ghose panel; opposes Banakacherla project, awaits HC verdict on panchayat polls

Time of India

2 days ago

HYDERABAD: The Telangana cabinet, chaired by chief minister A Revanth Reddy, on Monday decided to submit a comprehensive report to the Justice PC Ghose Commission probing the lapses in the execution of Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme (KLIS).
The submission will include whether the project received formal cabinet approval during the previous BRS regime, the rationale for constituting a cabinet sub-committee, and the extent to which its recommendations were implemented.
In other important decisions taken at the meeting, the cabinet approved the 201-km southern corridor of the Regional Ring Road, extending from Choutuppal to Sangareddy and an IIIT for Mahbubnagar.
Telangana Thalli statues will be installed in every district collectorate before Dec 9.
Briefing the media after the meeting at the state secretariat, revenue and housing minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, along with ministers Vakiti Srihari and Ponnam Prabhakar, said the govt would submit all requested information on KLIS by June 30. "This includes details on what then engineers-many now retired-recommended, and the basis on which the Medigadda, Annaram, and Sundilla barrages were taken up," Srinivas Reddy said.
The cabinet also took a strong stand on the Banakacherla project, vowing to resist it at all costs to safeguard Telangana's share of river waters. Srinivas Reddy alleged that a 'vicious campaign' was being run to blame the Congress govt for the project, even though the foundation stone was laid during the previous BRS govt's tenure.
"To set the record straight, the govt will soon give a detailed power-point presentation to all elected representatives," he said.
The Telangana state cabinet on Monday vowed to safeguard Telangana's share of river waters. Telangana Revenue and housing minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy alleged that a 'vicious campaign' was being run to blame the Congress govt for the Banakacherla project, even though the foundation stone was laid during the previous BRS govt's tenure. He said the govt will soon give a detailed power-point presentation to all elected representatives.
The presentation, scheduled for the first week of July, will cover how the former BRS govt 'surrendered' Telangana's rightful water share to Andhra Pradesh, steps the Congress govt has taken to halt Banakacherla, and the strategy going forward.
While sources confirmed that the cabinet also deliberated on holding talks with the AP govt regarding the river water dispute, ministers remained tight-lipped on whether formal cabinet approval was given for such talks.
Similarly, they refrained from confirming if the KLIS ever received cabinet sanction under the previous regime. 'All such details will be placed before the Ghose Commission,' Srinivas Reddy reiterated.
On the much-delayed panchayat polls, minister Prabhakar said the Telangana high court reserved its judgment after hearing the case on Monday. 'Once the judgment is delivered, the state govt will decide on election timeline and reservations in local bodies accordingly,' he said.