Latest news with #KaleshwaramLiftIrrigationScheme
The Hindu
9 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Congress and BRS share a protection bond: Bandi Sanjay Kumar
Accusing the BRS and Congress of shielding each other's 'corruption' and 'acts of deception', Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar has alleged that the two parties are having a mutual understanding to defend each other from 'wrong-doings' as part of a 'protection bond.' He was speaking to mediapersons in Karimnagar after participating in Raksha Bandhan festivities on Saturday. Mr. Sanjay reiterated his demand for a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) into the phone tapping during the previous BRS rule, saying the scope of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) currently probing the case is very limited. The phone tapping was done under the K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) government in violation of the regulations of the Telecom Regulatory Authority, he said, saying, 'This is entirely a matter under the jurisdiction of the Centre. The accused extorted hundreds of crores of rupees from political leaders, businessmen and film actors through phone tapping, he charged. Where did that money go? he asked, saying finding an answer to that is beyond the capacity of SIT officials. Responding to a query, he said, 'We do have trust in the SIT officials. But we have no trust in the Congress government. In cases like irregularities in Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme, power purchase agreements and the Formula E Race, and other scams surfaced during the previous BRS rule, the current Congress dispensation in the State is only delaying under the pretext of investigation without taking any action.' He further alleged that the phones of several politicians including the present Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy were also tapped by the previous BRS government. Can the SIT issue a notice to the Chief Minister and summon him for questioning? Mr Sanjay asked. It is imperative to hand over the phone tapping case to the central investigative agencies to complete the investigation quickly without delays, he insisted. Replying to a question, he said, 'The phones of the ministers, MLAs and MLCs were tapped. If BRS MLAs have any self-respect, they should leave that party.' 'BRS MLC Kalvakunta Kavitha should be served notices and questioned in the phone tapping case,' he said in reply to another query. On BRS working president K T Rama Rao (KTR)'s reported statement to issue a legal notice to him, Mr Sanjay said, 'I am ready to swear before God on phone tapping. Will KTR be ready to accept my challenge?'
New Indian Express
4 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Ghose panel report a ‘baseless plot': BRS leader Harish
HYDERABAD: Describing the Justice PC Ghose Commission report on the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme (KLIS) as 'baseless, politically motivated, and a conspiracy,' former irrigation minister T Harish Rao on Tuesday emphatically stated that the project had Cabinet approval and was not an individual decision by former chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao. To support the assertion of a collective decision, he displayed copies of Cabinet approvals for the three barrages. 'When the BRS returns to power, we would repair the two damaged piers of the Medigadda barrage and restore water supply to farmers,' he added. Making a PowerPoint presentation a day after the state Cabinet decided to table in the Assembly the report submitted by the PC Ghose Commission, Harish stated, 'It appears that the inquiry by the Commission was conducted in a conspiratorial manner.' The 665-page report held KCR, Harish and former finance minister Eatala Rajender responsible. It stated: 'The then finance minister remained a tacit perpetrator and the then irrigation minister allowed the chief minister to fulfil his desire.' The report also observed that the former chief minister acted not as the head of government but as the administrative executive himself.
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Why hasn't full report on Kaleshwaram project been made public: BRS leader Niranjan
HYDERABAD: Stating that the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme was executed to quench the thirst of Telangana, BRS leader and former agriculture minister S Niranjan Reddy on Monday wondered if it is fair to make 'political accusations' without releasing the full PC Ghose Commission report on the project. 'It is laughable that the Congress is now talking about changing the project site of Kaleshwaram. It was the Congress that maliciously and deliberately changed the site of the Nagarjunasagar project in the past, permanently betraying Telangana,' he said. 'Due to the sins of Congress, Telangana is deprived of its rightful share of water,' he alleged. Niranjan said that the Kaleshwaram project was built after obtaining all the required approvals. 'No matter how many conspiracies they hatch against KCR, the truth will come out. Why hasn't the full PC Ghose Commission report been made public?' he asked. The former minister also stated that the Commission's report was not final and it could be challenged in court as per the Commissions of Inquiry Act. The Commission of Inquiry was constituted only to target KCR, he alleged. He alleged that the ruling Congress was trying to fulfil the wishes of the anti-Telangana forces and trying to portray KCR as someone who made an unprecedented blunder, which was not true.
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Independent panel held KCR responsible for KLIS irregularities: Telangana Min Uttam
HYDERABAD: It's official now. The Commission of Inquiry on the Kaleshwaram Project, headed by retired Supreme Court Judge PC Ghose, has placed full responsibility on former chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao for the irregularities in the construction of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme (KLIS). While KCR was the sole decision-maker for Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla barrages, he functioned as administrative executive, directed impounding of water at the barrages' peril, and is liable for irregularities and illegalities, the report says. The then irrigation minister T Harish Rao allowed KCR to fulfil his intentions and is thus also liable for the irregularities. The then finance minister Eatala Rajender was described as a tacit perpetrator who remained ignorant of financial implications and rules, it says. The Commission noted that Rajender lacked commitment and integrity in safeguarding state finances. The state Cabinet discussed the report on Monday. According to a PowerPoint presentation given by Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy during the Cabinet meeting, the decision to construct the three barrages was made solely by KCR. The Commission observed that there was no formal government decision in this regard. The initial administrative approvals for the three barrages (GO Rt Nos. 231, 232 and 233, dated March 1, 2016) were not placed before or approved by the Cabinet, thus violating the government Business Rules. The Cabinet did not even ratify them. Works were awarded and started even before the detailed project report (DPR) by WAPCOS was finalised or vetted by the Central Water Commission (CWC). The CWC was still examining the project's cost estimate as late as May 2018, well after the administrative approvals were granted in March 2016. The Commission held that the manner in which the project was planned and executed caused a huge loss to the state exchequer.
NDTV
5 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
PC Ghose's Commission Report To Be Tabled In Telangana Assembly: Chief Minister Revanth Reddy
The Telangana government has decided to take action on the Justice P C Ghose Commission's report into the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme, but only after a detailed discussion in both the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council. This was announced by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy in a joint press conference on Monday after a cabinet meeting to discuss the report's findings. The cabinet, for the first time, met with the Kaleshwaram project as its sole agenda and formally approved the 665-page report. Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy, in a detailed presentation to the media, highlighted the key findings of the commission. The report, which was submitted to the government on July 31, holds former Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao "directly and vicariously accountable" for the alleged irregularities as reported earlier by NDTV. According to Uttam Kumar Reddy, the report states that crucial decisions, including the site changes and administrative approvals for the Medigadda, Annaram, and Sundilla barrages, were made without cabinet approval, in violation of business rules. When former Chief Minister KCR, former irrigation minister Harish Rao, and former finance and planning minister Eatela Rajender had deposed before the commission, all three had insisted that all decisions were presented before the cabinet and all approvals were given by the cabinet. The commission found "rampant and brazen procedural and financial irregularities" from the project's conceptualization to its execution. The report also implicated several senior officers and engineers for their roles in the lapses. The commission identified 19 officials as liable for action. Chief Minister Revanth Reddy emphasised that the government's intention is not to pursue political vendetta. He stated that the government would table the report in the upcoming Assembly session to seek the opinion of all political parties before finalizing a course of action. This, he said, would ensure a transparent and democratic process to address the "colossal waste of public money" that the commission concluded the project had become.
