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The recent sinking of piers at the Medigadda barrage, a crucial element of the Kaleshwaram irrigation project in Telangana, has become a focal point of political contention in the state. Telanganas newly-appointed Chief Minister, Revanth Reddy, has declared that his government will seek an investigation by a sitting High Court judge to probe alleged irregularities in the project.
During an address to the Legislative Council on Saturday, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy emphasized his commitment to transparency by announcing plans to accompany Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) and Members of the Legislative Council (MLCs) to the Medigadda barrage site. The aim is to assess the extent of damage to the barrage and investigate the circumstances surrounding the sinking piers.
The ruling Congress party welcomed the move, accusing the previous government of downplaying the incident and expressing concerns about the safety of the Kaleshwaram lift irrigation project. Senior Vice-President G. Niranjan questioned the delay in the former governments response, pointing out that nearly two months had passed since the incident on October 21.
Reports indicate that infrastructure major L&T has informed the state government that it will not bear the costs of rebuilding the piers that sank in October. This contradicts statements made by the then IT and Industries Minister KT Rama Rao before the elections, who claimed that the incident would not result in additional costs for the government as L&T, the project executor, would cover the expenses. L&T has yet to respond to these reports.
Niranjan raised concerns about the possibility of restoring the Medigadda project before the next rainy season, emphasizing that delaying the restoration could lead to further damage when the monsoon arrives in June.
In response to the escalating situation, Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy convened a review meeting with top officials to address the Medigadda issue. The political debate surrounding the project irregularities underscores the significance of the Kaleshwaram irrigation initiative and its implications for the region. |
