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The Justice PC Ghose Commission has held former Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) directly and indirectly responsible for irregularities in planning, execution, operation and maintenance of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project in Telangana.
The Commission also found then Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao, KCR’s nephew, responsible for the irregularities.
On Monday, August 4, Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy presented the report by the Ghose Commission on irregularities in the Kaleshwaram project at a Cabinet meeting. Despite an expert committee advising against the Kaleshwaram project, the KCR government deliberately suppressed the report, the Commission report said.
Headed by former judge of the Supreme Court Pinaki Chandra Ghose, the one-man commission submitted its report to the Telangana government on July 31.
The government on August 1 constituted a committee to thoroughly study the report and prepare a comprehensive summary, to be discussed in the state Cabinet meeting.
The Commission probed the alleged irregularities in planning, design, construction, quality control, operation and maintenance of Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla Barrages of the Kaleshwaram project.
It has explicitly identified a number of individuals and institutional functionaries – both engineers and political executives – as responsible for the failure of Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla barrages.
The Commission also reportedly found that then Minister for Finance and Planning Eatala Rajender disowned financial responsibility, deferred all accountability to the Kaleshwaram Irrigation Project Corporation Limited (KIPCL), despite the Finance Department being on the KIPCL's Board.
Several IAS officers and other officials were also reportedly found responsible for suppressing critical information related to the irrigation project.
The one-man Commission was constituted on March 14, 2024 to probe the allegations.
During the last 15 months, the Ghose Commission interviewed over 115 witnesses including engineers and retired and serving officials associated with the barrages and others.
Some piers of Medigadda Barrage had caved in during October 2023.
After the Congress party came to power in December 2024, it had ordered a probe by the Vigilance Department.
The National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) was also asked to conduct an investigation into all aspects of the mega project.
After the preliminary report by the Vigilance Department highlighted irregularities, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy had announced a judicial probe during a debate in the Assembly.
The term of the Commission has been extended seven times so far after its initial term ended on June 30, 2024. In May this year, the term was extended till July 31.
After the last extension, the Commission summoned KCR and former ministers T Harish Rao and Eatala Rajender.
KCR appeared before the Commission on June 11. The BRS leader, who was the chief minister from 2014 to 2023, was reportedly questioned by the Commission about re-designing of the project and the policy and finance related decisions taken for its construction.
The BRS denied allegations of corruption in the Kaleshwaram project and termed the summons to KCR an act of political vendetta by the government.
(With IANS inputs)