Latest news with #PCGhoseCommission
Hans India
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Cabinet to take a call on Banakacherla today
Hyderabad: The State Cabinet, which is meeting here on Monday, is likely to take a clear stance on the contentious Godavari-Banakacherla link project proposed in the Penna basin by the Andhra Pradesh government. The meeting will deliberate on taking forward the issue in an amicable manner, possibly by way of talks with Andhra Pradesh while underlining water sharing agreements. The Cabinet is also likely to focus on the details of projects that have been provided to the PC Ghose Commission, which has sought details of cabinet approvals for the Kaleshwaram project by the previous BRS government. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy had on June 19 met Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil urging him to stop the Banakacherla project. It was alleged that Banakacherla was against natural justice and detrimental to the interests of Telangana. They accused the AP government of violating the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal (GWDT) award and the 2014 AP State Reorganisation Act. The Union Minister was urged to reject the pre-feasibility report of the Godavari-Banakacharla project and to ensure justice. Subsequently, Revanth Reddy stated that he was ready for talks with his AP counterpart N Chandrababu Naidu over the Godavari-Banakacherla project.
Time of India
22-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Telangana cabinet to finalise reply to Ghose panel on KLIS and other key issues
HYDERABAD: The state cabinet meeting scheduled for Monday will deliberate on the information to be provided to the PC Ghose Commission, which has requested details of cabinet approvals by the previous govt for the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme (KLIS). The commission, currently investigating the sinking of piers at Medigadda and the damage to the Annaram and Sundilla barrages under KLIS, has cross-examined former chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and former ministers T Harish Rao and Eatala Rajender. Following their depositions, the commission is understood to have written to the govt seeking further details. KCR , Harish Rao, and Eatala reportedly informed the commission that the project was undertaken with cabinet approval. However, Agriculture minister Tummala Nageswara Rao, who served during the first term of the previous BRS govt, claimed that many decisions were made solely by KCR. "The chief minister's office has responded to the Ghose Commission stating that the requested information will be submitted by June 30. The matter will be discussed at the cabinet meeting on June 23," sources in the CMO said. Chief minister A Revanth Reddy has already stated that the cabinet will also consider the advantages and disadvantages of initiating discussions with Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu to find an amicable resolution to the inter-state river water sharing issue, including the contentious Banakacharla project, between the two Telugu-speaking states. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo "The chief minister and ministers are also expected to discuss the panchayat elections, the law department's report regarding the submission of material to the court on fixing reservations in local bodies, implementation of the Rythu Bharosa scheme, the Indiramma housing scheme, and other key issues," sources added.
New Indian Express
12-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Kaleshwaram project row: If found guilty, no one will be spared, warns Revenue Min Ponguleti
MULUGU: Dismissing the claims of political vendetta behind the ongoing investigation into alleged irregularities in the execution of the Kaleshwaram project, Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy on Wednesday said that once the PC Ghose Commission submits its report, those involved will have to 'face the consequences for their misdeeds.' Speaking to the media in Mulugu, the minister said: 'There is no question of any political revenge in this issue. The Central commission is conducting the inquiry. After the Commission submits its report, the culprits will have to face the consequences. No matter who they are and what their status is, they will not be spared.' 'The previous BRS regime had projected the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme as the eighth wonder of the world. The Kalvakuntla family looted the state while pillars of the project caved in during the BRS regime itself,' he added. 'KCR, the self-declared 'father of Telangana', deposed before the PC Ghose Commission. None of the people who were involved in this scam will be excluded from this inquiry,' he further said. Stating that Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy protected the Kaleshwaram project by taking up temporary repair works, he said: 'The flaws in the project design, defects in its execution and damage caused to its various components will be revealed once the Commission of Inquiry submits its report. Then the courts will deal with it as per law.' 'The Congress government will neither spare those responsible for Kaleshwaram scam nor those involved in phone-tapping, land-grabbing, and Mission Bhagiratha scams,' he added. Earlier, Srinivas Reddy, along with Panchayati Raj & Rural Development Minister Danasari Anasuya alias Seethakka and MP P Balaram Naik, distributed sanction letters for Indiramma Housing Scheme beneficiaries at Incherla village in Mulugu district. They also laid the foundation stone for the construction of houses in the Indiramma Colony of the village. Stating that the government had sanctioned 4.5 lakh Indiramma houses in the first phase across the state, he said that the highest allocation of 5,000 houses was made in the Mulugu Assembly constituency. Later in the day, Srinivasa Reddy and Seethakka took part in the Bhu Bharathi Revenue Sadassulu programme at Govindaraopet village and interacted with the applicants.
NDTV
11-06-2025
- Business
- NDTV
Exotic Wedding, 19 Plots, Villa, 3 Buildings: Telangana Engineer Booked For Corruption
Hyderabad: A destination wedding in Thailand for his son, on which crores were reportedly spent, a villa, three independent buildings, 19 prime residential plots, at least four flats, and stakes in multiple hotels - this lifestyle and assets may seem like they belong to a very wealthy businessman, but they are allegedly of an executive engineer in the irrigation department in Telangana. The Anti-Corruption Bureau on Tuesday raided 13 locations linked to Executive Engineer Nune Sridhar and discovered assets that are disproportionate to his known sources of income. The list included a 4,500 square foot flat in a luxury residential complex called Sky High in Hyderabad's Shaikpet, besides at least three other flats in Karimnagar. Officials said Mr Sridhar also owns a villa in Tellapur near Hyderabad, at least three independent buildings in Warangal, Karimanagar and Hyderabad, 19 prime residential plots in the three cities, 16 acres of agricultural land, and stakes in multiple hotels in Karimnagar, worth several crores, besides cash, jewellery and bank deposits. Mr Sridhar also said to have organised a destination wedding for his son in Thailand, spending crores on all the arrangements. The executive engineer, sources said, was also involved in the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project - the world's largest multi-stage lift irrigation project - which has been mired in corruption allegations. Former Telangana chief minister and Bharat Rashtra Samithi chief K Chandrashekar Rao has also been summoned by the PC Ghose Commission, which is probing alleged irregularities in the project. The corruption allegations surrounding the project had become a major issue in the 2023 Assembly elections in the state and the Bharat Rashtra Samithi has rubbished all the charges, insisting that it was planned and constructed for the welfare of the people of Telangana. Officials from the Anti-Corruption Bureau said a disproportionate assets (DA) Case has been registered against Mr Sridhar. "Financial documents, property papers, and transaction records are being examined for links to potential benami holdings and corruption in irrigation contracts," said an official. More Action Another report has recommended criminal proceedings in the Medigadda Barrage Case. The barrage is a key part of the Kaleshwaram project and had suffered damage, with several of its piers collapsing, in 2023. The Telangana Vigilance Commission has recommended that the Irrigation and Command Area Development (I&CAD) Department initiate criminal proceedings against senior engineers and the construction agency responsible for the barrage. The report, submitted by the Director General, Vigilance and Enforcement (DG, V&E), Hyderabad, has found serious lapses in execution, resulting in the sinking of Block No 7 of the barrage and a substantial financial loss to the state. The Vigilance Commission has advised that criminal cases be registered under sections pf the Indian Penal Code, along with provisions under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, the Dam Safety Act, 2021, and the Public Demands Recovery Act, 1984. The Commission's directive includes initiating action against 17 officers, including the former Engineer-in-Chief, Cheeti Muralidhar, and officials of the contracting agency, L&T-PES (JV), for faulty execution and procedural violations that led to the structural failure. The agency is accused of improperly executing secant piles and violating their own method statement, causing piping action beneath the raft and eventual cavity formation. The Commission has further instructed that recovery proceedings be initiated to reclaim the cost incurred for the replacement of the damaged block, and action be taken against the contractor for claiming completion certificates without fulfilling the required terms of the supplemental agreements.
NDTV
11-06-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Tech Calls On Kaleshwaram Project Taken By Engineers, KCR told Panel: Sources
Former CM K Chandrasekhar Rao testified before the PC Ghose Commission, stating he approved the Kaleshwaram irrigation project but left technical decisions to engineers. He defended the project's decisions and described its financial transparency. New Delhi: The self-declared architect of the world's biggest lift irrigation project Kaleshwaram, former Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, has told the PC Ghose Commission of Inquiry that while he envisioned the project and gave overall approval, all technical decisions were taken by engineers, sources said. KCR, as he is popularly known, is said to have told the one-man commission of former Supreme Court judge, Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose, that he would not like to be examined in public. So only Justice PC Ghose and Commission secretary Muralidhar were present when he answered questions put to him by the Commission. Even as thousands of Bharat Rashtra Samithi workers and leaders stood outside to express support, KCR's convoy drove in at 11 am and he left at 1 pm. Nine leaders were given permission to accompany him inside. They included former irrigation minister Harish Rao, who faced questioning by the Commission on June 9, and had brief KCR, over the last two days. Sources said 18 questions were posed to KCR and the entire process is said to have taken 50 minutes. He was reportedly asked who took the decision to build the project, to which the former Chief Minister reportedly said the political leadership did. He in fact said all decisions were taken by the cabinet and minutes of meetings were available for the same. KCR was asked about who took the decision for redesigning and re-engineering of the barrages, also about changing the location, how much water should be stored and for how long, to all of which KCR is said to have answered that based on expert and technical reports, the engineers had taken the decisions. He is said to have mentioned that as many as 4,000 engineers had worked to make the project a reality. The former Chief Minister reportedly mentioned recommendations of a PSU called WAPCOS, the Central Water Commission reports on availability of water at different points, repeated denial of permission by Maharashtra for locating the first barrage at Tummidi Hatti, forcing the shift to Medigadda and so on. The former Chief Minister is also reported to have been asked about why a corporation was set up. He said it was done to raise financial resources and bring transparency. KCR reportedly shared documents, including a booklet on "Kaleshwaram: the Lifeline of Telangana" -- a copy of GO45 on allocation of responsibilities and an operations and maintenance manual. The BRS has maintained that the inquiry ordered into the planning, design, construction, quality control, execution, operations and management of Kaleshwaram, is politically motivated. "There is no death, no breakdown. Only two of 300 pillars developed cracks and the government is reacting as though a major disaster happened in Telangana as though the entire project collapsed, whereas both the Congress and the NDSA have turned a blind eye to real disasters elsewhere," BRS working president KT Rama Rao told NDTV. BRS MLC and KCR's daughter Kavitha had also said she would be at BRK Bhavan as support to KCR as he deposed before the commission. Though Ms Kavitha was seen in visuals at KCR's farmhouse this morning as he was leaving to appear before the Commission, she instead went to visit BRS leader Palle Rajeshwar who had an accidental fall and was admitted to hospital this morning.
