BRS demands CBI probe into Tanukula check dam, Medigadda damage

The BRS demanded a CBI investigation into the structural failures at Tanukula check dam and Medigadda barrage, alleging large-scale corruption and negligence. Party leaders said only an independent probe can establish accountability for the recurring infrastructure lapses and safeguard public resources

Hyderabad: Alleging that the Tanukula check dam was blown up for the sake of illegal sand mining, Bharat Rashtra Samithi leaders MLA Padi Kaushik Reddy and former IPS officer RS Praveen Kumar on Wednesday said the names of some Congress leaders also figured in the complaint lodged by the affected farmer in connection with the incident.

Addressing a news conference, they said the Tanukula check dam was blown up through controlled explosions using gelatine sticks and there was enough evidence to prove it. The sagging of pillars in Medigadda barrage of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project could also be because of similar sabotage, they said, demanding a CBI probe into both the incidents. They also demanded immediate action against those responsible for it.

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“These are very serious matters. The truth must come out before the people”, said Kaushik Reddy.

They demanded immediate blacklisting of Raghav Constructions, the contractor which executed the dam work. They insisted on cancellation of all tenders awarded to the firm, including the Kodangal project. BRS leader and former Minister T Harish Rao had personally inspected the damaged Tanukula check dam and found clear evidence of blasting.

Kaushik Reddy threw an open challenge to Peddapalli Congress MLA C Vijaya Ramana Rao, who had dared Harish Rao to quit politics if he could prove blasting took place. “I accept the challenge on behalf of Harish Rao. I will show proof of blasting. If Vijaya Ramana Rao has courage, he should quit politics immediately, or will he backtrack like Revanth Reddy?” the BRS MLA taunted.

He alleged that 5,000–6,000 acres of agriculture land in the area was dependant on the check dam for irrigation and that its destruction had caused immense hardship to farmers.

Both the leaders cited official complaints filed by Irrigation Department engineers as evidence. Deputy Executive Engineer of Palakurthy division lodged a police complaint stating that a massive explosion was heard at night and gelatine sticks were used to blast the Tanukula check dam. Hundreds of farmers reportedly caught persons with gelatine sticks earlier and handed them over to the police. A similar complaint was filed by Assistant Engineer Ravikant at Mahadevpur police station on the night of October 21, 2023 alleging similar explosion at Medigadda barrage.

Praveen Kumar said, “Blasting a check dam is worse than committing a hundred murders. It kills the future of thousands of farmers.” He alleged that the same modus operandi was used at both Medigadda and Tanukula sites.