Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee President A. Revanth Reddy has urged a comprehensive investigation into all aspects of the Kaleshwaram project following the National Dam Safety Authority’s report on the sinking of Medigadda barrage’s piers. Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, Reddy called for the central government to establish a committee comprising technical experts from other states, overseen by a sitting judge of the Supreme Court, to conduct a thorough probe into the project.
This investigation should encompass all stages, from estimating costs to planning, designing, and construction. Reddy also pressed for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to personally inspect the Medigadda barrage during his next visit to Telangana to gain a firsthand understanding of the situation.
He criticized Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR), alleging massive corruption in the project and describing KCR and his family as “financial terrorists.” Reddy insisted that the central government should take action against them. To ensure transparency and a fair investigation, Reddy demanded that KCR and Minister Harish Rao be removed from their positions.
He questioned why KCR had not initiated criminal proceedings against L&T, the company responsible for building the barrage. Reddy pointed out that during the Telangana statehood movement, KCR had promised that the formation of the state would bring water, funds, and employment.
However, over the last decade, these promises have remained unfulfilled. According to Reddy, KCR’s tenure has been marked by the redesigning of Congress-proposed projects instead of fulfilling his commitments. He cited the transformation of the Pranahita Chevella project into Kaleshwaram as a prime example of a project deviation from the original engineering plans.
The recent issues at the Medigadda barrage within the Kaleshwaram project indicate that it was not constructed in accordance with the initial plans, resulting in the sinking and damage of the barrage, Reddy alleged.
Reddy further claimed that KCR had inflated the estimated cost of Kaleshwaram from 38,500 crores to 1 lakh crore under the guise of redesigning. Despite this substantial investment, the project was not built to the required quality standards, leading to corruption and damage.
Reddy criticized KTR and his party for their response to his and Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Medigadda, citing the National Dam Safety Authority’s official statement that the entire project could be damaged, necessitating complete demolition and reconstruction.
