The Telangana government has decided to hand over the investigation of alleged irregularities in the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). This decision has been taken based on the report of the National Dam Safety Authority (NDS), in which there has been talk of flaws in the plan, design and quality control in the construction of Medigadda, Annaram and Sundarila Barrage Barrage.
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy made this announcement after a long discussion of 9.5 hours in the assembly on 31 August. He gave former Chief Minister K.K. Chandrashekhar Rao (KCR) and the then Irrigation Minister T. Harish Rao have been accused of increasing the cost of the project from Rs 38,000 crore to Rs 1.47 lakh crore and misusing public money. In the NDS report, the reason for the malfunction of Medigadda Barrage has been stated to be inadequate plan and maintenance.
BRS opposed the report
The government clarified that Justice P.C. Ghosh will not be based on the report of the Commission. Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leaders opposed the report of this commission as the State Congress Committee (PCC) Commission and called it inspired by politics. BRS leader Harish Rao claimed that this report is not legally sustainable and it would be challenged in court. Meanwhile, the Telangana High Court provided interim relief to KCR and Harish Rao and directed the state government that by 7 October, Justice P.C. No action should be taken against them on the basis of Ghosh Commission report. The court gave this order after hearing the petitions of both the leaders, in which they questioned the validity and fairness of the Commission.
CBI investigation required Chief Minister
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy said that CBI investigation is necessary due to the participation of central and state agencies in the project. The BRS called it a political conspiracy, while the BJP questioned the delay in the investigation. This case can prove to be a significant turn in Telangana politics.
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