Hyderabad: The government of the former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao (KCR) made changes to the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the Kaleshwaram project after receiving approval from the Central Water Commission (CWC). The Kaleshwaram project was originally an idea of KCR, but the DPR was modified following recommendations from a high-power committee during the previous government.
N Venkateswarlu, the former Engineering in Chief (Irrigation), revealed to the Justice Ghose Commission that the irrigation department was not involved in the initial planning of the Kaleshwaram project. According to Venkateswarlu, KCR conceived the project on his own without consulting irrigation engineers. He further explained that the high-power committee changed certain designs after the CWC’s approval, and the locations of the Medigadda, Anannaram, and Sundilla barrages were finalized by WAPCOS (Water and Power Consultancy Services Limited).
The official emphasized that the irrigation department had no role in selecting the barrage sites or making proposals for the overall construction of the Kaleshwaram project. The department only began working on the project in 2016, after receiving direct instructions from KCR. The former chief minister held a meeting with top irrigation officials to present his plan for the lift irrigation scheme.
The Justice Ghose Commission questioned Venkateswarlu on various aspects of the project, including the construction of the barrages, the approvals from central agencies, and the involvement of field-level engineers. The Commission also warned the official that legal action could be taken if he failed to fully disclose the details about the barrages, lift schemes, and installation of pump sets.
