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The Wire
05-08-2025
- Politics
- The Wire
Telangana: KCR Indicted in Kaleswaram Project ‘Irregularities'; BRS to Hold Special Assembly Session
Government N. Rahul According to the commission of inquiry, KCR's 'involvement and directions minutely…' is the 'cause and result of irregularities and the cause of distress to these three barrages'. Hyderabad: In the light of a severe indictment of former Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao by a commission of inquiry into charges of corruption and irregularities in the construction of much-touted Kaleswaram irrigation project during the previous Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS) rule, the Congress-led Telangana government has decided to convene a special session of legislature shortly to debate the followup action. The decision was taken at an emergency cabinet meeting headed by current chief minister, A. Revanth Reddy, on Monday (August 4). Flanked by the entire cabinet, Reddy told a media conference that both Houses of the legislature will seek suggestions from all their members, including from Chandrasekhar Rao if he was available, on the way forward. The cabinet approved the report, he said. The 665-page report of the one-man commission, comprising Justice (retired) Pinaki Chandra Ghose, a former Supreme Court judge and first Lokpal of the country, will be tabled in the assembly and the legislative council. The commission, which submitted its report after 16 months on July 31, held Chandrasekhar Rao "directly and vicariously" accountable for the irregularities and illegalities in planning, construction, completion, operation and maintenance of three barrages of over Rs. 1 lakh crore Kaleswaram lift irrigation project. A pier of one of the three barrages of the project, which was a key component, sank and developed a huge crack from top to bottom in October 2023 and has remained abandoned since. His 'involvement and directions minutely…' is the 'cause and result of irregularities and the cause of distress to these three barrages,' the commission noted. The report was studied by a team of three secretary-level officers and summarised for presentation to the cabinet on Monday. The meeting, chaired by chief minister Reddy, was convened solely to discuss the commission findings and follow up action. The commission was instituted by the Congress government in March last year, months after the party was voted to power in Telangana. It started functioning from May and cross-examined 119 witnesses, including Chandrasekhar Rao and his erstwhile cabinet colleagues T. Harish Rao and Eatala Rajender, on the basis of a large quantity of sworn affidavits, official documents and communication. Several senior bureaucrats, engineers, officials and representatives of contracting firms deposed before the commission. The project was founded in 2016 and completed on a war footing in 2019, with several cost overruns from its initial projection of Rs 71,436 crore to Rs 1.45 lakh crore as per the findings of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India. The project was originally conceived by the previous Congress government in the name of Pranahita-Chevella link with a dam at Tummidihatti in Adilabad district. However, the BRS government, shortly after it was elected to power, shifted the site to Kaleswaram in erstwhile Karimnagar district in the name of reengineering existing projects. Pranahita is a tributary of Godavari river which had copious flood water. A key finding of the commission, as per the condensed brief of the secretaries committee to the cabinet, was that Chandrasekhar Rao and his son-in-law Harish Rao, then irrigation minister, "intentionally have not considered the report of an expert committee". The expert committee of five retired chief engineers, constituted in January 2015, explicitly rejected the proposal to construct a barrage at Medigadda, which eventually suffered damage, due to "prohibitive cost and time consumption". It suggested alternative sites. But, the report was "intentionally not considered" and kept in cold storage by Chandrasekhar Rao and Harish Rao. The decision to construct the barrages at Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla (the latter two also faced seepage issues) was the "sole and individual decision of Harish Rao and Chandrasekhar Rao". There was no formal decision of the government in the form of cabinet approval. Initial administrative approvals for the construction of the three barrages were not placed before or approved by the cabinet, thus violating government business rules. Chandrasekhar Rao, Harish Rao and Eatala Rajender, then finance minister, who is now a BJP MP, had, however, in their deposition before the commission claimed that the project was discussed and approved by the cabinet. Rao's letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in February 2016, seeking financial aid, mentioned the Kaleswaram project cost at Rs 71,436 crore even before WAPCOS (Water and Power Consultancy Services), a consultancy firm of the Union government, submitted its final detailed project report. The claim of non-availability of water at Tummidihatti as the reason for shifting the barrage to Medigadda, which is the key component of the project to lift water to the other two barrages and take it to parts of the State through balancing reservoirs and canal network, "does not appear to be sincere and honest", the commission noted. The IAS officers panel wrote in its executive summary that the commission's report concluded with a scathing indictment, finding rampant procedural and financial irregularities, lack of proper planning, design flaws, construction defects and a complete absence of effective operation and maintenance. The report pinned significant responsibility on key political and administrative figures, particularly then chief minister Rao, for direct involvement and disregard for established procedures, resulting in colossal public expenditure and the current distress to the barrages. The commission fixed responsibility on over a dozen officials and engineers, name-wise for various lapses that were identified. They are: Eatala Rajender: As finance minister demonstrated "lack of commitment and integrity in safeguarding the financial and economic health of the newly formed State, pleading ignorance of crucial decisions related to the project". S.K. Joshi, former chief secretary, who also served as principal irrigation secretary and chairman of Kaleswaram Irrigation Project Corporation Limited (KIPCL): Liable for suppressing the expert committee report, violation of business rules in administrative approvals and for the failure of KIPCL. Smita Sabharwal, secretary to chief minister, who looked after irrigation in CMO: Found "not diligent, negligent and irresponsible in the discharge of her duties for failure to ensure business rules compliance regarding Cabinet approvals. C. Muralidhar, retired engineer-in-chief of irrigation (now lodged in jail in an assets case): Liable for suppressing the expert committee report, providing false information to Central Water Commission (CWC) on permissions for the project, proposing malicious revised estimates and failing in operations and maintenance. B. Hari Ram, chief engineer and KIPCL managing director (also in jail now in an assets case): Liable for suppressing the expert committee report and providing information to CWC. Despite being managing director of KIPCL, he disclaimed knowledge of the barrages. B. Nagender Rao, engineer-in-chief (operations and maintenance): Failed absolutely in carrying out O&M duties from January 2021 onwards. Liable for perpetuating damage to all three barrages. T. Pramila, chief engineer, State Dam Safety Organisation: Found ignorant of the basic responsibilities of her post. At least half-a-dozen other senior engineers were also found in the wrong or deposed falsely before the commission. The project, initially conceived at Rs 38,500 crore for Pranahita-Chevella link, landed in a massive cost overruns. It got unjustified revised administrative approvals by alleged variations due to shifting of locations of Annaram and Sundilla barrages, increased length, flood banks and design changes. The decision to shift the location of the two barrages by a high power committee, of which Muralidhar was a member, was done after contracts were concluded and without consulting WAPCOS. When the revised administrative approvals were further revised, the project cost went up again for reasons of increased water quantity, change in specification, design and drawings, duly incorporating additional items of work such as staff quarters, guesthouse, taxes and cost escalation. The proposals for revised administrative approvals were made with malicious intention to unduly favour the contracting agencies and wrongfully syphoning the amount from the public exchequer. There was absolutely no operations and maintenance of whatsoever nature, including periodical checks or inspection, pre- and post-monsoon inspection of the three barrages at any time. Chandrasekhar Rao directed continuous impounding of water in the barrages to their full capacity for lifting water through pump houses even though the barrages are typically diversion structures with low head, not as storage structures. This continuous impounding was a major cause of distress to the barrages. "The Chief Minister was pre-determined and bent upon constructing the barrage at Medigadda at his free choice. Authorities facilitated his decision". This was not the decision of the government but of individuals. The barrages, designed on permeable foundations, were utilised as storage structures which is against standard practice. Crucial studies on backwaters were not done at shifted locations. The quality control aspects were observed to be inadequate. The certificates of completion given for work at Medigadda were wrong, illegal and tainted with malice to do undue favour to contractors as work was not fully completed and defects detected. The commission recommended recovery of Rs 6.77 crore paid to WAPCOS as its report was "brushed aside". It said the project authorities and the work agencies were hand-in-glove and acted with concerted malicious intention in pursuit of their unfair and ulterior motive to unduly benefit and make unlawful gain from the project. At the cabinet meeting and media conference later, state irrigation minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy gave a power point presentation on the commission's report. He said the BRS government borrowed Rs 87,449 crore at high interest rates and low repayment tenures from non-banking financial institutions which had become a huge burden for the present government. The government was yet to repay Rs 1.05 lakh as principal and interest. The minister recalled that then Union mInister for water resource, Uma Bharti, had communicated to the state government about Union government's willingness to give hydrology clearance for Pranahita-Chevella link project as 205 thousand million cubic feet (TMC ft) water which was more than the required 180 TMC ft was available at Tummidihatti. But, Chandrasekhar Rao had his own way. The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.
The Hindu
04-08-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Ghose Commission blames KCR for being directly and vicariously accountable for irregularities in Kaleshwaram
Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose Commission has blamed former Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao as 'directly and vicariously' accountable for the irregularities and the illegalities in planning, construction, completion, operation and maintenance of the three barrages Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla forming part of the much-hyped Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP). 'His involvement and directions minutely... is the cause and result of irregularities and the cause of distress to these three barrages,' the Commission said in its 665-page report which was examined by the State Council of Ministers on Monday. The commission said it could be categorically held that there was rank irregularity from the stage of conceptualisation of Kaleshwaram project till the issuance of administrative approvals on March 1, 2016 for construction of the three barrages and 'this is not the decision of the government, but of individuals'. 'The then Chief Minister (Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao) 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,' Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy said. The Minister, through a power point presentation, explained the highlights of the concise report prepared by the officials committee comprising secretaries of Irrigation, Law and General Administration departments constituted to thoroughly examine Justice Ghose commission's report. The commission he said was constituted to inquire into the negligence, irregularities and lacunae in Planning, Designing and Construction of Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla Barrages. 'Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao has mortgaged the people of Telangana borrowing high interest, low tenure funds from non banking financial institutions like the Power Finance Corporation and Rural Electrification Corporation,' he said. This was after the previous government spent ₹11,000 crore, 32% of the project cost of around ₹38,000 crore on the Pranahita Chevella Sujala Sravanti project which was re-engineered. The commission had inquired into various facets of Kaleshwaram right from its conceptualisation and found that there were several lacunae in planning, design, construction and operation and maintenance of the project. It had considered reports submitted by the National Dam Safety Authority, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, Vigilance & Enforcement and other agencies before finalising its report. 'The decision to shift the project site from Tummidihatti to Medigadda is not a Cabinet decision, but a decision of the individuals. The decision to shift the site does not appear to be sincere and honest,' he said adding the commission revealed that non-availability of water at Tummidihatti as claimed by Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao was not a correct and genuine reason. He recalled how Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao claimed in the assembly that a team of retired engineers was constituted to study the project. But, the report which recommended against construction of the project at Medigadda and other sites had been deliberately suppressed by the then Chief Minister and Irrigation Minister T. Harish Rao and officials, including then Irrigation secretary S.K. Joshi. Moreover, the barrage construction at Medigadda did not receive the consent of the Cabinet which was illegal. 'It is a sole individual decision of Mr. Rao and there was no formal decision of the government in this regard,' he said. In addition, Mr. Rao ensured that the project works were commenced much before the formal detailed project report was prepared which was tantamount to violation of every guideline. The report of the judicial commission was marked with frequent mentions about revised estimates and of the cost escalations besides the project design where construction was permitted on permeable foundations. 'There are several instances of construction defects and inadequate quality controls while Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao had directed impounding of water into the barrages at their peril. The government had also obtained completion certificates wrongfully,' he quoted the commission as saying and added that the Chief Minister, then Irrigation Minister, Finance Minister and several officials were made liable for the irregularities and illegalities in the Kaleshwaram project. While the special purpose vehicle Kaleshwaram Irrigation Project Corporation Limited was collectively responsible for releasing money at its will, the executing agencies, L&T, Afcons, Navayuga 'acted hand in glove' with the project authorities. 'They should be made liable for repairing the defects at their own cost the Commission recommended,' he said.
The Hindu
24-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
CM dares KCR for a debate on river water issues in assembly
Upping the ante against the Bharat Rashtra Samithi president K. Chandrasekhar Rao for allegedly mortgaging the interests of Telangana to Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has challenged the Opposition leader for a debate in the legislative assembly on Polavaram- Banakacherla on Godavari proposed by the Andhra Pradesh government. The BRS president can chose the time and date of his choice and the government is prepared to convene a special session to exclusively discuss about the State's share of water in Godavari and Krishna rivers and the way the interests of farmers are mortgaged by the previous regime. 'I will come with proofs to nail who is the traitor of Telangana. Is Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao ready?' the Chief Minister said. Mr. Revanth Reddy utilised the celebrations organised to mark completion of crediting of over ₹9,000 crore into the accounts of 70 lakh farmers under Rythu Bandhu to launch a tirade against the BRS. The BRS leaders were trying to cast aspersions on the Congress government when their government had in fact compromised on the State's interests in lure of commissions. He took strong exceptions to the attempts of the main Opposition to provoke the people in the name of alleged injustice to the State in Godavari water. 'The Polavaram-Banakacherla project was conceptualised by the neighbouring State after Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao's claim in 2016 that 3,000 tmcft of Godavari water is going waste into the sea. The BRS president went on the assert that he will extend his cooperation in making Rayalaseema fertile agreeing for diversion of Godavari water through Handri-Neeva project by the neighbouring State,' Mr. Revanth Reddy said. He criticised the BRS leaders for trying to project an image that he (Mr. Revanth Reddy) allowed diversion of Godavari water becoming hand in glove with A.P. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. 'I did not betray the Congress like he (Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao) does after promising to merge his party with the Congress,' he alleged. The situation was no different when it came to Krishna waters. Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao, the former Chief Minister, agreed for Telangana's share of 299 tmcft out of the 811 tmcft allowing A.P. to draw 512 tmcft as its share. 'There is record of the Apex Council meeting where Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao has accepted the offer. I am ready to furnish the proof if he is willing to come face to face in the assembly,' Mr. Revanth Reddy said. Telangana, according to international norms, should get 555 tmcft of Krishna water as 66% of the area traversed by the river was in Telangana. The Chief Minister was particularly critical of the previous government for, what he called, swindling away huge public money in the name of Kaleshwaram project which suffered major damages within three years of construction. 'His (Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao's) family amassed thousands of crores in the name of Kaleshwaram while he mortgaged the interests of the State, especially of farmers, agreeing to lower share in river water,' he said. The BRS government had in fact shelved the pending projects like Nettempadu, Bhima, Kalwakurthy and others works which were started when the Congress was in power in the erstwhile united State. He also dismissed claims of the BRS leaders that the government did not mount pressure on the Centre against the projects proposed by the neighbouring A.P. government. 'I am fighting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi for Telangana's rights and am prepared to go to any extent in this regard,' he said recalling his warning to Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil that the State would approach the Supreme Court if permission were granted to Polavaram-Banakacherla project. Rajiv Yuva Vikasam Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has announced that the focus of his government will now be on effective implementation of Rajiv Yuva Vikasam, the scheme aimed at providing financial support to eligible youth for taking up self employment. He said after completion of Rythu Bharosa, crediting ₹9,000 crore into the accounts of over 70 lakh farmers in nine days, the government had resolved to finalise a concrete action plan in the interests of youth. Rajiv Yuva Vikasam was conceived after filling over 60,000 vacant posts in the government enabling more youth to get employment opportunities.
The Hindu
26-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Congress will implement welfare and development programmes for the next 20 years, says Deputy CM Bhatti
Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka has asserted that the Congress government will continue to implement the spree of people-centric policies for all round development of the State for the next 20 years. After a decade of lull, people have started reaping the benefits of the welfare and development programmes launched by the people's government in Telangana and these are set to continue for the next two decades. Telangana has become the role model for other States with several innovative programmes like caste census and other States are enquiring about the successful implementation of these programmes. Mr. Bhatti Vikramarka was addressing a public meeting at Achampet on Monday after launching several development works. He launched a trenchant attack on the Bharat Rashtra Samithi alleging that the party led by Opposition leader K. Chandrasekhar Rao looted the State for 10 long years. 'Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao is now lamenting that nobody is approaching him after losing power,' he said. He recalled that the previous government had kept payment of ₹10,000 crore dues to employees pending and the Congress government had cleared more than ₹8,000 crore in the past one-and-a-half years. The balance dues would be cleared in phases as the government had to spend huge amounts in the implementation of several welfare programmes. He took objections to claims from a section that Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao was a 'God-like figure' pointing out that his own daughter MLC K. Kavitha had revealed that there were demons surrounding Mr. Rao. He recalled how youth who fought for separate Statehood in anticipation of jobs were denied employment opportunities during the 10-year tenure of the BRS. The Congress had however taken steps to fill 57,000 vacancies and process was on for filling 30,000 more vacancies in the coming days. This was in addition to the Rajiv Yuva Vikasam scheme that was aimed at providing self employment opportunities to left over eligible youth with an estimated ₹9,000 crore. 'Why is Mr. Rao worried? Is it because the Congress government has been promptly giving minimum support price to farmers or because of the payment of ₹500 bonus to fine rice as assured?' he asked. He said the ₹1 lakh loan waiver implemented by the BRS government in four instalments could not mitigate the farmers' woes as the amounts were settled towards interest. The Congress government on its part had however successfully waived crop loans of ₹22,000 crore in one go. This was in addition to providing investment support of ₹12,000 a year to landless farmers engaged in tilling lands. The Congress government had also come up with the historic Nallamala Declaration a couple of days ago envisaging off grid power connectivity to tribal farmers with an estimated ₹12,600 crore. 'Did the BRS president ever consider schemes for financial empowerment of tribals?' he questioned adding the government had enhanced the diet and cosmetic charges for hostel boarders in spite of the financial constraints facing the State.
The Hindu
20-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
The churning within the BRS
Instead of stepping up its tirade against the ruling Congress government for what it terms its 'failures', the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) in Telangana is grappling with internal conflicts. The Congress is facing a financial crunch which is affecting its ability to implement various welfare schemes, particularly the ones it promised before the Assembly elections. Yet it is the BRS that has been making headlines for all the wrong reasons in a section of the media, which the party terms 'anti-BRS' and 'pro-Congress'. Reports state that differences have cropped up within the family of BRS president K. Chandrasekhar Rao — namely, between his son and working president of the party, K.T. Rama Rao; his nephew, Harish Rao; and his daughter, K. Kavitha. Since Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao has stopped taking an active role in party affairs, speculation is rife in political circles that the BRS is planning to hand over the reins of the party to Mr. Rama Rao. This has reportedly upset Mr. Harish Rao, a former minister who has been a steadfast supporter of the party and its president for the last 24 years. Also read | The Bharat Rashtra Samithi: defeated but not destroyed Mr. Harish Rao rubbished these rumours at a press conference. He categorically stated that he had no differences with Mr. Rama Rao or any other leader in the BRS for that matter, and that he would always remain a soldier of Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao. 'The decision of the party chief would be of paramount importance to me. I will not hesitate to work with KTR (K.T. Rama Rao) even if he is given the reins of the party,' he said. Mr. Harish Rao also sought to label the whole controversy a 'conspiracy' of the Congress aimed at engineering fissures within the BRS. Mr. Rama Rao, Mr. Harish Rao, and B. Vinod Kumar, a senior leader considered close to the party leadership, also met at Mr. Harish Rao's house for over four hours to discuss the party affairs threadbare. Sources say the meeting was held on Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao's directions. 'There have been reports of bickering and efforts to break the party ever since the party was formed in 2001...,' Mr. Vinod Kumar said. 'Such efforts and conspiracies gain momentum when the party is out of power. The party leadership is united and working hard to take the failures of the Congress government to the people. We believe that it is better to sweat during peace than to bleed during war.' Sources admit that there could be minor differences of opinion on the protest programmes being planned against the government. However, they add, rival parties examine such differences with a magnifying glass. They also say that speculation about Mr. Harish Rao breaking away from the party originated long ago, in 2006, when the BRS, which was then known as the Telangana Rashtra Samithi, pulled out of the Congress-led coalition government. It again gained momentum after the 2018 Assembly elections when Mr. Harish Rao was not included in Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao's Cabinet. It once again resurfaced after the BRS lost power in December 2023, they say. Meanwhile, Ms. Kavitha raised eyebrows when she stated recently that certain leaders within the party were conspiring against her rise. She said that they may not be 'satisfied with my spending six months in jail in the case foisted against me in the Delhi liquor policy issue'. Mr. Kavitha, who heads Telangana Jagruthi, a cultural wing of the BRS, was arrested by the CBI in the Delhi liquor policy case on March 15, 2024, and released on bail on August 27. Unlike Mr. Harish Rao, who sought to clear the air, Ms. Kavitha has clearly embarked on her own path. She has been championing the cause of Backward Classes and women. Ever since the party was ousted from power, she has visited about 50 Assembly constituencies to boost the morale of the cadre. She also recently said that while a 'geographical Telangana' State had been created, Samajika Telangana (social justice) has not yet been delivered to the people. These rumours and public statements have created confusion in the BRS and could affect its ability to regain the support of voters. It is important for the party leadership to dispel them and put up a visible united front against the Congress government. Such efforts will make a huge difference to the morale of the party cadre, especially at a time when the Congress is increasingly dependent on flaying the Opposition instead of delivering on the promises it made to the people of Telangana.
