Hyderabad, Dec 30, 20 The Telangana government has taken a decisive step by initiating a judicial investigation, led by a sitting high court judge, into alleged engineering lapses surrounding the Kaleshwaram lift irrigation project on the Godavari river. This ₹1 lakh crore ($13.5 billion) project, constructed in 2019, is under scrutiny due to damages, including sinking pillars and leaks.
A ministerial delegation, headed by State Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy, visited the site and observed damages, including the sinking of pillars at one of the barrages. Reddy expressed deep concern over the engineering lapses and outlined the financial burden on the state, estimating it to be ₹15,000 crore ($2 billion) per year, with ₹10,000 crore ($1.3 billion) in pending bills.
The sinking of six piers and suspected weakening of gates prompted the National Dam Safety Authority to declare one of the barrages “completely useless” unless fully rehabilitated. Reddy announced a comprehensive inquiry, emphasizing accountability for those responsible.
The minister also mentioned the project’s history, citing that the previous Congress government had initially planned it at Tummidi Hatti village, upstream of Kaleshwaram. However, the BRS government redesigned it, changing the location to Kaleshwaram without a scientific approach, according to Reddy.
In response, BRS legislator Kadiyam Srihari defended the project’s redesign, stating it aimed to prevent submergence in Maharashtra and avoid massive compensation payments. He criticized the Congress ministers for passing judgments before the commencement of the judicial inquiry.
The judicial probe, expected to be led by a sitting high court judge, will investigate the lapses and submit findings to Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy for further action, ensuring accountability for damages to this significant project.
