logo
Kaleshwaram inquiry commission summons KCR, former ministers for cross-examination by June 9

Kaleshwaram inquiry commission summons KCR, former ministers for cross-examination by June 9

HYDERABAD: The Commission of Inquiry on the Kaleshwaram project has issued notices to former Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, former Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao and former Finance Minister in the BRS regime, E Rajender (now BJP MP from Malkajgiri), directing them to appear before the Commission within the next 15 days for cross-examination.
The Commission has fixed June 5 as the deadline for Chandrasekhar Rao, June 6 for Harish Rao, and June 9 for Rajender to appear before it. The Commission of Inquiry is headed by former Supreme Court Judge PC Ghose.
For the past three months, the Commission had been in a dilemma over whether to summon politicians for inquiry. However, on Monday, the State government extended the tenure of the Commission by two more months, up to 31 July, 2025. On Tuesday, the Commission served notices to the political leaders.
In June 2024, Chandrasekhar Rao had approached the High Court after receiving notices from the Justice L Narasimha Reddy Commission, which had probed alleged irregularities in the power purchase agreement (PPA) with Chhattisgarh, as well as in the construction of the Yadadri and Bhadradri thermal plants by the then BRS government.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Eatala defends role in Kaleshwaram decisions, challenges Cong to reveal Ghose report or seek CBI probe
Eatala defends role in Kaleshwaram decisions, challenges Cong to reveal Ghose report or seek CBI probe

Time of India

time4 hours ago

  • Time of India

Eatala defends role in Kaleshwaram decisions, challenges Cong to reveal Ghose report or seek CBI probe

Hyderabad: BJP MP Eatala Rajender on Sunday clarified his appearance before the commission probing irregularities in the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project, stating that he had only explained the decisions taken during his tenure as finance minister and his specific role in them. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now He asserted that he was under no obligation to shield former chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, and took aim at Congress ministers for making what he called "misleading and politically motivated" statements aimed at confusing the public. Addressing the media, Rajender said, "I did not go before the commission to make political statements. I went to explain facts. The Kaleshwaram project wouldn't have taken shape without the cabinet sub-committee, which recommended redesigning several components. All related govt orders, sub-committee decisions, and recommendations will soon be made public." He took strong exception to minister Tummala Nageswara Rao's claim that the Kaleshwaram decisions were not discussed in the cabinet. "Nothing happens without cabinet discussion and approval. Every decision bore the signatures of ministers, including Tummala himself, Jupally Krishna Rao, and Kadiyam Srihari," Rajender pointed out. He challenged the Congress govt to release the PC Ghose Committee report, which is examining the alleged irregularities in the project. "If they are serious about accountability, let them act on the Ghose report. If they can't, hand it over to the CBI," Rajender said, adding that transparency, not political mudslinging, was the need of the hour.

CPI cautions Andhra Pradesh govt. against taking unilateral decision on Banakacherla project
CPI cautions Andhra Pradesh govt. against taking unilateral decision on Banakacherla project

The Hindu

time9 hours ago

  • The Hindu

CPI cautions Andhra Pradesh govt. against taking unilateral decision on Banakacherla project

CPI State secretary K. Ramakrishna says it is not correct on the part of the government to decide on the Godavari-Banakacherla project unilaterally. Andhra Pradesh would face disastrous consequences like Telangana's Kaleshwaram project if it went ahead without a proper plan, and Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu should immediately convene an all-party meeting regarding the pending irrigation projects and new proposals, Mr. Ramakrishna said while addressing the media in Vijayawada on Sunday. Mr. Ramakrishna said the government was not focusing on completion of pending irrigation projects. Instead, it was rushing ahead with new proposals such as the ₹82,000 crore Godavari-Banakacharla project. He recalled how, under BRS chief K. Chandrasekhar Rao's rule, the Kaleshwaram project in Telangana was initiated with a ₹81,911 crore estimate. Already, ₹1.03 lakh crore had been spent on it and yet it remained incomplete, the CPI leader said. 'Engineers bypassed' Mr. Naidu should consult all political parties before proceeding with such a massive project. Reports suggest that Mr. Naidu was bypassing irrigation engineers and directly negotiating with a big contractor, Mr. Ramakrishna said. 'The government is risking its credibility by unnecessarily burdening itself with the Banakacharla project and focusing entirely on contract-based politics. The government should involve farmers' associations, irrigation experts, and political parties before going ahead,' he said.

"World's biggest engineering blunder": BJP MP Konda Vishweshwar Reddy slams Kaleshwaram project
"World's biggest engineering blunder": BJP MP Konda Vishweshwar Reddy slams Kaleshwaram project

India Gazette

time14 hours ago

  • India Gazette

"World's biggest engineering blunder": BJP MP Konda Vishweshwar Reddy slams Kaleshwaram project

Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], June 8 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament Konda Vishweshwar Reddy described the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project in Telangana as the 'world's biggest engineering blunder' and termed it a 'huge scam' that has severely impacted the state's economy. Speaking to ANI on Saturday, BJP MP Reddy said, 'Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project in Telangana is the world's biggest engineering blunder and it's a huge scam which ruined Telangana economically. It is one of the prime reasons that the richest state of Telangana is in such a horrible economic condition. We have a loan of Rs 8 lakh crores.' 'The present Congress government does not have money to pay salaries and run the government,' he added, blaming the ruling party for the deepening financial crisis. Earlier, Telangana Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy had held the previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government responsible for the project's failure, calling it the 'biggest man-made disaster' since Independence and the 'most expensive engineering failure' caused by any state government in India. He said that Telangana is currently paying Rs16,000 crore annually in interest and instalments on high-cost loans borrowed during the BRS regime for this 'faulty' project, thereby placing an enormous burden on the state's finances and its farmers. Meanwhile, the Justice PC Ghose Commission on Tuesday issued summons to former Telangana CM K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR), former Minister Harish Rao, and BJP MP Etela Rajender, who also served as a minister during the BRS regime, in the ongoing investigation into alleged irregularities in the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP). The Commission, which has been probing financial and procedural lapses in the multi-crore irrigation project, directed the three political leaders to appear for questioning in the first week of June. According to the sources, KCR was asked to appear before the Commission on June 5, followed by Harish Rao on June 6 and Etela Rajender on June 9. (ANI)

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store