Hyderabad: The comments made by Vedire Sriram, the Advisor to the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti and Chairman of Task Force on Interlinking of Rivers, about the Kaleshwaram project not having permission from the CWC has sparked a new controversy.
Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy questioned how the Centre could guarantee loans for the Kaleshwaram project if it did not have CWC’s approval. He suggested that there may have been an understanding between the BJP and the previous government till it was in power. Uttam also rejected Sriram’s claims that the current government did not provide information on Kaleshwaram, highlighting that the Congress government had requested an investigation by the NDSA and promised full cooperation.
Uttam blamed the previous government for design, planning, and construction flaws in the Kaleshwaram project. He criticized the earlier government for compromising quality and safety for personal gains at the expense of farmers’ future. According to Uttam, the losses incurred by former CM K Chandrasekhar Rao and his son K T Rama Rao amount to around Rs 1 lakh crore, which the state would have to repay from public funds.
The Minister mentioned that repairs to the Medigadda barrage would be undertaken after receiving the NDSA’s report. He anticipated a preliminary report from NDSA within a month and outlined plans to supply water to farmers during the upcoming Kharif season. Uttam disclosed that the previous government had borrowed nearly Rs 1 lakh crore from PFC and REC for the Kaleshwaram project.
Uttam revealed that L&T had constructed the Medigadda barrage without involving sub-contractors. He noted that L&T had submitted bills worth Rs 400 crore for the project, which were currently under review. Uttam accused the previous government of spreading misinformation, citing CWC’s confirmation of water availability in Tummadihatti contrary to claims made by BRS. He assured that despite challenges, the Congress government remained committed to completing the project.
