KCR acted not as govt head but as administrative executive: Panel report on Kaleshwaram project
The three barrages under inquiry were Medigadda, Sundilla and Annaram, the first of which became a symbol of the alleged mis-execution of Rs 1 lakh crore Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project on Godavari river during the previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) regime.
Hyderabad: The judicial commission of inquiry on Kaleshwaram has held former Telangana chief minister K.Chandrasekhar Rao 'directly and also vicariously accountable for the irregularities and the illegalities in planning, construction, completion, operation and maintenance of the three barrages,' under the mega irrigation project.
KCR had inaugurated the BRS government's mega showpiece Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP) at Medigadda in June 2019, i.e., in the first year of his second term.
'It can be categorically held that there is rank irregularity from the stage of conceptualization of Kaleshwaram project till the issuance of administrative approvals on 1.3.2016 for construction of the three barrages. This is not the decision of the government but of individuals,' said the Pinaki Chandra Ghose commission.
Sticking to its election promise, the Revanth Reddy-led Congress government, in March 2024, appointed Pinaki Chandra Ghose, a former judge of the Supreme Court, to conduct judicial Inquiry on allegations of irregularities, corrupt practices and embezzlement of public funds via the project.
The commission submitted its report last week and the contents were revealed by irrigation minister Uttam Kumar Reddy, in presence of the CM and other ministers after the Telangana cabinet reviewed the report on Monday.
'The then chief minister is pre-determined and bent upon to construct barrage at Medigadda at his free choice and the authorities associated with the decision making facilitated them,' said the report.
The commission noted that the reason given—non-availability of water at Tummadihetti, the original site—for shifting the barrage location to Medigadda 'does not appear to be sincere and honest.'
'The decision of construction of barrage at Medigadda and also at Annaram and Sundilla is solely of the then chief minister,' the commission said, noting that an expert committee had earlier concluded Medigadda site as 'not advisable and also not economical.'
The commission 'conclusively held that the issuance of government orders according administrative approval of Rs 2591 crore for construction of Medigadda project is not placed before the cabinet and is issued pursuant to the orders of the minister (irrigation) and the chief minister.'
The consequential failure of the barrage, the report said, is on account of impounding of water, among other reasons.
'It has categorically been observed and held that the then chief minister has directed the authorities to store water in the barrages to their full capacity for the purpose of lifting water through pump houses. Therefore, the then chief minister acted against the interests of the state and had no sincere, honest and conscientious mind to protect and safeguard the three barrages constructed at huge cost of thousands of crores of public money.'
'The chief minister acted not as the head of the government but as the administrative executive himself.'
KCR, then irrigation minister Harish Rao had appeared before the commission earlier this year.
Presenting the findings of the report, irrigation minister Uttam said the 'irrigation project described as the life line of Telangana has collapsed, after incurring huge expenditure and pushing the state into huge debts.'
Later, CM Reddy said that his government 'will table the report in the assembly for a thorough discussion and to decide on course of action based on the recommendations.'
The report also blamed former chief secretary S.K.Joshi, engineer in chief C.Muralidhar and others of suppressing an expert committee report with malicious intention to enable the then minister for irrigation and the then chief minister to go ahead with their intention to construct the barrage at Medigadda.
'Thus, by suppressing the report, they facilitated to construct barrage at Medigadda and they indulged in this malicious act at the cost of huge public money and putting the economy of the state at stake (sic),' it added.
The report is expected to be presented in the Telangana legislature during the ensuing Monsoon session.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
Also Read: The rise of PV Krishna Reddy & MEIL — 2nd largest electoral bonds donor that worked on Kaleshwaram
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