Kaleshwaram Project: Telangana CM Revanth Reddy announces CBI probe after marathon debate in assembly

Telangana Chief Minister one Revanth Reddy in the wee hours of Monday (September 1) announced a CBI probe into alleged irregularities in the Kaleshwaram project built during the previous BRS regime.

Speaking in the Legislative Assembly at the end of a brief discussion on the Judicial Commission report on the Kaleshwaram project, which concluded around 2 am, Reddy said it was appropriate to hand over the probe to the CBI as inter-state matters, different departments and agencies of the central and state government are involved in the project.

Central government organizations and financial institutions are also involved in the design, construction and financing of the projects, he said.

“Therefore, the House takes the decision to hand over the investigation into this matter to the CBI with the permission of the speaker. Because there are many issues involved in this matter and also suitable for investigation, our government is issuing orders for the CBI investigation,” he said.

Reports from the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) and the Judicial Commission have highlighted the need for a deeper and more comprehensive investigation into various issues regarding the project, he said.

The judicial commission in its report identified several defects and irregularities which are suitable for taking criminal action, he said.

According to the NDSA report, faults in planning, design and quality control were found to be the reasons for the failure of the Medigadda dam of the Kaleshwaram project, the CM said.

He said the government had so far paid ₹49,835 crore towards payment of principal and interest on the loan taken for the Kaleshwaram project, with a total interest of ₹29,956 crore and the principal amount paid was ₹19,879 crore.

He said he had pursued the central government and secured debt restructuring for ₹26,000 crore.

Loans for the project were obtained at exorbitant interest rates by the BRS government, he said.

During the debate, Reddy alleged that to loot public funds of Telangana, the previous BRS government changed the location of the dam from Thummidi Hatti to Medigadda, changing the project definitions despite a report against it by a group of retired engineers.

On Sunday (August 31), the government tabled the report of the Judicial Commission, headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice PC Ghose, in the Assembly.

The commission suggested that it is the responsibility of the state government to take action against former chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao in accordance with law.

Earlier, the BRS staged a walkout from the Assembly alleging that the party was not given enough time to express its side on the Judicial Commission report.

“While the then Minister of Irrigation gave haphazard instructions and the Minister of Finance and Planning conducted himself in an apathetic manner to the finance and economic health of the State, it is the then Chief Minister who can be directly and equally held responsible for the irregularities and illegalities in the planning, construction, completion, operation and maintenance of the three dams,” the Commission report said.

“However, it is the responsibility of the government to examine and take action against them, where appropriate, in accordance with the law,” the report added.

The commission, headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice PC Ghose, submitted its report to the government on July 31.

The meeting held a brief discussion on the Commission’s report on Sunday, August 31.

Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project is a multi-purpose project on the Godavari River in Bhupalpally district. Damage to dams, built during the previous BRS regime, has become a major issue in the 2023 Assembly elections.