Kaleshwaram Project: No Accountability, Another Rs 4,000 Crore Spending?

Do Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy have any regard for public money? Would they act in the same manner if something like this happened to a project of their own? Did the Kaleshwaram Project reach this situation because CM Revanth Reddy and Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy compromised on the issue? Officials appear to be suggesting that the answer is yes. Estimates now indicate that around Rs 4,000 crore will be required to restore the Kaleshwaram Project. Initially, the estimated cost was put at Rs 2,500 crore. However, it is now being said that the amount could go up to Rs 4,000 crore. Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy say that they will proceed only in accordance with the recommendations of the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA), under the Central Government, and other experts. Despite nearly Rs 1 lakh crore being spent on the construction of the Kaleshwaram Project, serious deficiencies have come to light. However, the people responsible for these shortcomings have not yet been identified. No action has been taken against the construction companies or the political leaders who ordered changes to the original designs.

                                      Yet, the Revanth Reddy government is preparing to spend another Rs 4,000 crore on the project. Spending this amount to restore a project built at enormous cost for the benefit of farmers may not necessarily be wrong. However, there is growing criticism that proceeding with the restoration without identifying those responsible for the irregularities and corruption during the previous government, or taking any action against them, amounts to treating public money as if it were at the disposal of those in power. It is being pointed out that Rs 4,000 crore would be sufficient to complete a new medium-sized irrigation project. Although the Justice P.C. Ghose Commission was constituted to uncover corruption in the Kaleshwaram Project, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy excluded some of its most crucial components from the commission's scope. The Chief Minister, who had personally accused certain individuals of looting the project like bandits, is now seen moving around with those very people by his side.

                                 The Revanth Reddy government also washed its hands of the matter by sending the Justice P.C. Ghose Commission report to the Centre, citing the need for a CBI investigation. When Revanth Reddy and leaders like Uttam Kumar Reddy were in the opposition, they made numerous allegations against the Kaleshwaram Project. What is particularly striking is that BRS leaders had earlier challenged the government, claiming that the damaged Kaleshwaram Project could be repaired for less than Rs 500 crore and that they themselves would undertake the repairs if the responsibility was handed over to them. Even though cracks have appeared in the project constructed under their own government, BRS leaders continue to promote conspiracy theories. Political and official circles are discussing how the alleged compromise by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy on this issue has worked to the advantage of BRS leaders.