Telangana's Kaleshwaram project on which politics has erupted, CM Reddy and BRS face to face

Kaleshwaram project in Telangana remains in the headlines. Reddy government and BRS have come face to face over this project. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has announced a CBI inquiry into the project. Speaking at the end of the discussion on the report of the judicial commission on the Kaleshwaram project in the assembly early Monday, Reddy said that this project involves interstate issues, various central and government departments and agencies, so it is right to hand over this investigation to the CBI.

CM Revanth Reddy had ordered the commission to investigate this project. After the commission's report came out, now a CBI inquiry has been announced in the matter

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The CM said that the reports of the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) and the Judicial Commission have emphasized the need for a thorough and comprehensive investigation into various issues related to this project. The Judicial Commission has identified several flaws and irregularities in its report.

What is this project?

This is a Multi-Stage Irrigation Project located on the Godavari River, which is in Kaleshwaram in Bhupalpally district of Telangana. This was constructed during the tenure of the BRS government. The foundation stone of the project was laid in 2016. Its purpose was to provide water for agriculture, drinking water and industries in Telangana. The then Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao (KCR) called it the lifeline of Telangana. Also, it is considered one of the largest lift irrigation schemes in the world.

Kaleshwaram has an impact till the meeting point of Pranahita and Godavari rivers. It carries water through a canal network of more than 1,800 km. Its objective was to provide irrigation facilities to more than 16 lakh acres of land in 13 districts of Telangana and to stabilize the existing ayacut. Though it has target is to store and distribute 240 TMC feet of water from the Godavari river, out of which 169 TMC feet is proposed for irrigation, 30 TMC feet for water to Hyderabad, 16 TMC feet for various and industrial uses and 10 TMC feet for drinking water supply to villages on the way.

Project remained in controversy

The Kaleshwaram project was in controversy from the very beginning. Earlier its location was decided to be Tummidihatti, but later the government shifted it to Medigadda. The reason given for this was that there was no water available there, whereas the Central Water Commission (CWC) report stated that there was more than 200 TMC water there. It is also alleged that the barrages were not built on strong foundations but on weak foundations, due to which the Sundila barrage collapsed and cracks appeared in Annaram and Sundila barrages.

Announcement of CBI investigation

Congress had promised to investigate this in its election promise. After coming to power, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy formed a judicial commission headed by Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghosh. In the 15-month investigation, he questioned more than 110 witnesses, including former Chief Minister KCR and Minister T. Harish Rao. Now the government is discussing the report in the assembly and taking suggestions from all parties on further action. After this, the CBI investigation has been announced.

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At the same time, BRS says that the project had received all the necessary approvals and the assembly also approved it. Reddy said that till now the government has paid Rs 49,835 crore on the loan for the Kaleshwaram project. Out of this, Rs 29,956 crore was given as interest and Rs 19,879 crore as principal. He said that he talked to the Centre and got the loan restructured to the tune of more than Rs 26,000 crore. He alleged that the BRS government took loan at high interest and changed the location of the barrage from Tummidihatti to Medigadda to loot the public money, while the report of retired engineers was against it.

What was said in the commission's report?

The government on Sunday tabled the report of the judicial commission headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice PC Ghosh in the assembly. The commission said that former Chief Minister KCR can be held responsible as per the law and it is up to the state government to take action.

Summary 

BRS walked out of the House in protest and alleged that they were not given time to present their views. The commission's report said that the irrigation minister at that time used to give arbitrary orders and the finance minister was careless, but the direct responsibility for the irregularities in the planning, construction and operation of the three barrages falls on the then CM.