The National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) report on the lapses in design and execution of Telangana’s prestigious irrigation project Kaleshwaram has been creating political uproar among BRS and its political rivals. This has led to a ‘war of words’ between present Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy and former irrigation minister Harish Rao.
Uttam Kumar Reddy accused that the report labelled the project as the worst man-made disaster in the history of the country. He alleged that the then BRS government had covered up the failure of every step in the Kaleshwaram project and executed in a haphazard manner, taking the commissions of the commissions. Minister Uttam gave a powerpoint presentation on the final report submitted by the NDSA to the media.
However, BRS leader Harish Rao criticized the NDSA for becoming a pocket organization of the NDA government. He alleged that there was a conspiracy between the BJP and Congress behind the NDSA releasing the preliminary report before the assembly elections, the interim report during the parliamentary elections, and the final report during the BRS silver jubilee.
He said that despite the organization of the Bharat Summit and Rythu Mahotsavam, as well as the harassment of motorists by RTA officials and the creation of many obstacles, the BRS silver jubilee meeting was a success. He stated that KCR’s speech was being discussed throughout the state.
He alleged that in this process, Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy had spread blatant lies and falsehoods by obstructing the NDSA report. He recalled the same Uttam Kumar Reddy, who opposed the NDSA formation bill in the Lok Sabha on behalf of the Congress, but today criticizing the BRS government based on the same NDSA report.
Harish Rao asserted that the NDSA has never said that there was corruption in the construction of Medigadda, but if you look at Uttam’s efforts to say that there was corruption, it is obvious. He said that the report has concluded that there were serious mistakes in all stages of the Kaleshwaram project.
Meanwhile, Uttam Kumar Reddy said that this report will be discussed in the upcoming cabinet meeting and legal action will be taken against all of them after finding out the details of who is responsible for the corruption, technical errors, construction failures, etc. in the project, and who ordered the government officials or ministers to take up the work at that time.
Moreover, Harish Rao said that the NDSA report had also faulted the Congress government and said that the Medigadda project could be put into use by rebuilding Block 7. He warned that the farmers’ throats should not be cut in the name of politics. He said that there are many needs for drinking, cultivation and industrial purposes, and that even drinking water would not be available if there was no rain, and that the project should be revived quickly.