Eatala Rajender appears before Justice PC Ghose Commission

Demands that Congress government make all reports related to Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme public

Hyderabad: BJP MP and former Finance Minister Eatala Rajender appeared before Justice PC Ghose Commission on Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme (KLIS) and demanded that the Congress government make all reports related to the irrigation project public.

While seeking stringent action against those responsible for the alleged losses, irrespective of party or position, he suggested the government not to politicise the issue.

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Speaking to the media after his deposition, Rajender distanced himself from the execution of the Kaleshwaram project, stating that all construction and financial decisions fell under the purview of the Irrigation Department. “I have no role in the Kaleshwaram project. The then Cabinet took the decisions based on recommendations of the technical committee,” he said.

The former Minister clarified that the change in project location, from Thummidihatti to Medigadda, was made due to objections raised by the Maharashtra government and also observations made by the Central Water Commission. He informed that the redesigning of the project was done after taking into consideration of the objection raised for construction at Thummidihatti, water availability and also recommendations of the technical committee.

He said former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao and former Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao held complete control over the project details, including funding decisions through the Kaleshwaram Corporation. He cited multiple factors as reason for cost escalation of the project from Rs 63,000 crore to Rs 82,000 crore.

He added that the Finance Department had minimal role, asserting that loans and expenditure related to the project were managed by the Irrigation Department through the Kaleshwaram Corporation. “The Finance Department was not in the loop on Kaleshwaram Corporation loans,” he said, refuting any allegations of financial mismanagement on his part.

While former Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao is scheduled to appear before the Commission on June 9, former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao will depose before the Commission on June 11.