BRS govt followed engineers' advice, Harish defends Kaleshwaram decisions before probe Ghose panel
Hyderabad: Former irrigation minister T
staunchly defended the BRS govt's decisions on Kaleshwaram project, asserting they were backed by technical recommendations, cabinet approvals, and driven by ground realities, including inter-state constraints.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
Deposing before the Justice (retired) PC Ghose Commission of Inquiry on Monday,
Rao, who held the irrigation portfolio between 2014 and 2018, clarified that the former BRS govt had shifted the source of the Kaleshwaram project from Tummidihatti to Medigadda based on expert committee advice, water availability, and political hurdles with neighbouring Maharashtra.
"The Central Water Commission itself said the proposed water availability at Tummidihatti was not feasible.
Of the 160 tmcft expected, 63 tmcft had already been allocated to upstream states. The CWC even wrote to the state to reconsider the proposal," Harish Rao said during the 40-minute hearing, conducted in English and Hindi. He supported his statements with a line diagram of the project.
He added that an expert committee of retired engineers had also flagged concerns over Tummidihatti's viability. "The idea was to irrigate 16 lakh acres, but even the engineering committee recommended creating artificial reservoirs instead," he said.
The ex-minister also highlighted Maharashtra's strong opposition to the barrage at 152 metres elevation due to submergence and local resistance. "Despite several rounds of meetings with Maharashtra ministers and even their then CM Devendra Fadnavis, who candidly remarked that even when the Congress was in power at both state and Centre, they could not push this project through for seven years. How could we have succeeded where they failed, given the local anger," Harish Rao said.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
H
e maintained that the eventual decision to shift to Medigadda and reconfigure Annaram and Sundilla barrages was guided by a Water and Power Consultancy Services (WAPCOS) survey and recommendations from both serving and retired engineers. "Even major projects like Nagarjuna Sagar, SRSP, and the recent Kanthanpally saw location changes after field surveys — so such revisions were not unprecedented," he said.
On the barrage failures, Harish Rao distanced the political executive from operational decisions. "Filling up of barrages was entirely a decision of field-level engineers and the irrigation department. The govt had no role in that," he claimed.
When asked about the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Corporation, Harish Rao confirmed that it was created as a special purpose vehicle to raise project loans. "The initial plan was to generate revenue through water tariffs from industries, but Covid-19 disrupted that.
The state then stepped in with budgetary support, and the govt never defaulted," he said.
Harish Rao also pointed out that all decisions regarding Kaleshwaram—barrage locations, project structure, and KLIC formation—had cabinet backing. "Some decisions, especially on technical grounds, were made on the advice of engineers. Govts cannot override technical feasibility," he reiterated.
His deposition comes at a time when the BRS is under political fire following structural failures in the prestigious Kaleshwaram project, which was often showcased by the party as a symbol of Telangana's irrigation resurgence.
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
Post-MLA's Death… Political mercury to rise in JH Assembly segment
Hyderabad: Following the untimely death of sitting MLA M Gopinath, political heat is set to rise in Hyderabad soon, as the by-election to Jubilee Hills Assembly constituency will be held anytime in next six months. Major political developments are likely to take place in the assembly segment in view of the ruling Congress and opposition BRS and BJP's readiness to claim their stakes and show upper hand in the by elections. The Jubilee Hills assembly constituency is unique as the voters in the segment are a mix of Andhra settlers, minorities and other local communities. The three major political parties were holding grip in the assembly segment. However, the city-based AIMIM party has been deciding the fate of the contestants since the majority of muslim voters supported those who were backed by the Majlis party. The sitting MLA Gopinath won elections in 2018 and 2023 with the support of the Majlis party. Congress candidate Mohd Azaruddin tried hard to convince the majority muslim voters to win the last election but the voters chose the BRS leader. The role of minority voters will be crucial in the assembly segment in the triangular contest in the upcoming by elections. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy would consider the by-election a litmus test to his government and the Congress victory is crucial to show the party's strength in Hyderabad, where the Congress already failed in the last GHMC and assembly elections in deriving political advantage. 'Congress will rely on poaching strong local leadership to consolidate its position first and then fight the elections to win', leaders said. BJP state unit President and Union Minister G Kishan Reddy would start political meetings with local leadership soon to strengthen the party as well as mobilise cadres to win the elections.
Hans India
an hour ago
- Hans India
HC directs Kaushik Reddy to face trial in criminal case
Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court single bench of Justice Kunuru Lakshman on Monday directed Huzurabad BRS MLA Padi Kaushik Reddy to face trial in the criminal case registered against him in Kamalapur PS. However, the court quashed offences registered against him U/s. 188 IPC. Justice Lakshman heard the criminal petition filed by Reddy seeking 'stay' on all further proceedings in CC No 268/2024 pending before the Special Judicial First Class Magistrate for Excise Court at Nampally, including his appearance before the court. The case was registered during the 2023 Assembly elections which he contested as BRS candidate. The petitioner had released a video on November 28 delivering a short message to the voters asking them to 'vote' for him so that he wins. He was also seen threatening them to vote for him, failing which, he will die. His words were 'if you don't vote for me, then, you will have to attend my funeral procession'. Justice Lakshman, though quashed the offences against Reddy, directed the investigation officer to probe contents of the video. After the video went viral on social media platforms, in utter disregard to the model code of conduct. Gunde Babu, MCC nodal officer, Kamalapur (Hanumakonda) gave a police complaint. A case was registered against Reddy U/s. 171-C, 171-F r/w. 188 IPC, 506 IPC and Sec. 123(2) of Representation of Peoples Act 1951 in the FIR no. 247/2023.
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Hardeep Singh Puri: ‘Today's India is different … Pre-Modi era of dealing with Pakistan was a theatre of the absurd'
As the Narendra Modi-led NDA government completes the first year in its third term and 11th overall, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri speaks to The Indian Express about the Centre's biggest achievements, Operation Sindoor, and the 2027 Punjab Assembly polls, among other issues. Excerpts: * What are the three biggest achievements of the Narendra Modi-led government? Firstly, spreading the benefits of developments and the dispersal of goods and services, which are growing rapidly, across the length and breadth of the country. This, to me, is the biggest achievement. Second is the shift from women-centred to women-led development. I believe development is more stable and growth is faster when women form the core. Third, which I think is very important but not easily understood, is successfully reclaiming pride in our civilisation and cultural past … In India, till former PM (Atal Bihari) Vajpayee delivered his address at the United Nations General Assembly in Hindi, people who did not know English delivered it in broken English. Why? Speak your language. The UN has five languages and English is not necessary. I happen to be English educated and think the language must be continued … But there is pride in educating people in their mother tongues and regional media. *As a career diplomat who served in the UN, how do you view Operation Sindoor, India's bid to diplomatically isolate Pakistan in the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack, and what the PM has defined as the new normal? It is a different ballgame now. I can't see why educated people are not able to see it when, more or less, the whole world sees it. Earlier, you allowed Pakistan to use terror as an instrument of state policy … You would take whatever they said at face value and have negotiations with them … The pre-Modi era of dealing with Pakistan was a theatre of the absurd. After the 26/11 (Mumbai attacks), did you retaliate? What did you do? The language used then was 'thoda sa hot pursuit ho gaya (there was a little bit of hot pursuit)'. This time, it was not Balakot and just one strike. We went hundreds of kilometres inside and hit terror infrastructure, and also the security infrastructure in places such as Muridke, Bahawalpur, and Nur Yar Khan airbase that facilitate terror projects. I think the beauty of the current situation lies in the message. In 22 minutes, we gave a befitting response and the devastation caused is empirically verifiable through satellite imagery, which is out in the public domain. While the PM's message conveyed that blood and water cannot flow together, a senior former colleague of mine said we must maintain strategic ambiguity. One can do that, but the PM made it clear that any act of terror will be considered an act of war. This is totally different from the earlier situation. * The Opposition has criticised the government over the timing of the ceasefire… There is a streak of maturity in the conduct of Operation Sindoor, which is, by the way, ongoing. The choice of targets was a purely military decision; so was the one taken on when to cease hostilities, both of which were endorsed by the political leadership. I don't think armchair critics can sit back and say 'nahi, abhi thoda aur (no, some more)'. Let the political leadership decide. People across the world applaud mature statesmanship. See what we have done. We pulverised nine of their (Pakistani) installations in 22 minutes. Did they do anything? All kinds of drones came and we neutralised them. Today, India is a $4.3 trillion economy. Our domestic defence manufacturing is going up. The BrahMos is sought after all over the world and a part of it is manufactured in India. The country is in a celebratory mood due to 11 years of good governance, mindboggling statistics (on economic and welfare schemes), and the number of people lifted out of multidimensional poverty. The poverty rate has fallen from 24% to 5%. Unemployment rate too is down – of course, we need to do more – and the growth rate must be 8%, etc. These are the kind of discussions we should be having, and not the kind of ones that the Leader of the Opposition (Rahul Gandhi) is having. *Apart from the LoP, several senior Opposition leaders, including ones from his party, have targeted the government over US President Donald Trump's announcement of the ceasefire … A lot of people will interpret statements made by global leaders and I don't think it will serve any purpose adding mine to it. We have a consistent policy of dealing with Pakistan bilaterally. Since the operation is ongoing, let us hold that judgment and wait. What did the Opposition do during their time? When the 26/11 attack happened, I was having dinner to welcome the head of the International Institute of Peace and Security Walter Chipman, where the current LoP was also present … He apparently went to a party in a farmhouse after that. Was there action after the Mumbai attack? A former foreign secretary said they exercised restraint, though they had choices. Tie it in a bundle and keep it in a museum. Today's India is different. We have said any act of terror will be seen as an act of war and that is unambiguous. There is no need for strategic ambiguity. Many people make statements without fully understanding what is going on. The same people said Pakistan is the elected vice-chair of the counter-terrorism committee (of the UNSC). However, when 10 new members come in and all 15 (including five permanent members) sit down, there is a division of committees. Pakistan was keen to chair the panel but the others did not agree and hence it ended up with the vice-chairmanship. They were deprived … The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has also put out a clarification on this. *Compared to 11 years ago, where do we stand now in terms of energy goals and clean energy? The story of the energy sector is mind-boggling in itself, while the one on green energy is an even bigger one. In 2014, biofuel mix blending (with normal fuel) was 1.4%… We achieved the target of 10% blending in November 2022, five months in advance and the target of 20% blending was achieved six years earlier in 2024. The story now is if we want to go above 20% and discussions are on over how much higher we can go. While the refining capacity today is 260 million metric tonnes per annum, arrangements are in place to cater to 310 million metric tonnes, with debates ongoing if the capacity should be increased to 400 or 415 (million metric tonnes) to make India one of the regional hubs of refining. Virtually no one spoke of green hydrogen before our PM first did in 2021… Today, the 10th round of open acreage licensing policy is ongoing. India in 2025 is very different from what it was in 2014. * What is your take on the Opposition's criticism? For instance, the one by Gandhi of the Election Commission (EC) and other institutions. It is very easy to answer this question by using words like ill-conceived and misplaced, but I think there is a more fundamental problem which requires an analysis of the man making the statements. If you have a son like that, you should be worried. If you have a friend like that, you must counsel him. However, as a leader of the party, he is not only undermining the party, whose stalwarts have contributed to the Independence movement, but is also undermining the country with a handpicked advisor (in the background). It does not take much time for members of his party to invoke 'nation first' when they are abroad. Today, the Congress needs course correction, but it is unlikely to happen as it is controlled by a family and is already being referred to in the past tense. In the past three (Lok Sabha) elections, I do not think they collectively got 200 seats. I do not think he and his advisors are thinking this through. * The all-party delegations, which also included members of the Congress, have been criticised. I do not think anybody has questioned the delegations. The shocking point was that even Opposition members in the delegation became very articulate spokespersons of the country. Even though one party was in power for most of Independent India's 75-year history, I do not think BJP members spoke against the country even while being in Opposition. I have nothing but the highest amount of respect for the members of the delegations, including (AIMIM chief Asaduddin) Owaisi ji . We belong to different political parties, but in a robust democracy, there may be disagreements, but not issues concerning the nation. * The Punjab elections are just over a year away and the BJP's traditional ally Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) seems to be in disarray. Do you expect a three-cornered contest there? Disarray is putting it mildly. Punjab will see a four-cornered contest and not a three-cornered one. Our vote share (in Punjab) has gone up from 6% to about 19% but we need to get our act together. The BJP needs to make some changes and I am sure it will. I am optimistic about the 2027 polls because the people will see through what the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government is doing and what the Congress did recently. We suffered as we were the junior partner in the alliance with the SAD and contested only 22-23 seats … We need to spend time in rural areas and establish our presence … The BJP is on a journey to recovery that I hope will be complete by 2027.
