Kaleshwaram row: Ghose report blames KCR, Harish Rao; facts highlight leadership, delivery – Part 2

The Ghose Commission blamed KCR and Harish Rao for procedural lapses in the Kaleshwaram project. However, fact checks highlight their leadership, discipline, and the timely completion of a massive irrigation initiative

Hyderabad: The Justice PC Ghose Commission has held former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao responsible for alleged irregularities and procedural violations in the construction of Kaleshwaram project’s three barrages. The report claims that instead of limiting himself to the political executive, he acted like an administrative executive, directly influencing technical decisions.

Fact:

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* KCR only monitored progress, never bypassed engineers or agencies. All works were executed post-feasibility by irrigation engineers and VAPCOS using LIDAR surveys.

* Contracts were awarded via tenders to reputed firms like L&T after thorough technical assessment.

* Monitoring timelines, checking contractor commitments, and ensuring fast-paced execution is not interference, but it is leadership.

* Current Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy also conduct reviews and monitor the execution of their directives, which is an established practice. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is hailed as CEO for similar monitoring.

* Chandrashekhar Rao’s constant monitoring resulted in the completion of the world’s largest lift irrigation project within just three years, ensured timely delivery, saved public money (from cost escalation) and provided water.

Harish Rao worked as per CM’s directions; he too is a culprit

The Justice PC Ghose Commission in its report stressed that former Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao was politically involved in the Kaleshwaram project works and was also responsible for the Medigadda incident.

Fact:

As an Irrigation Minister, it was his prime duty to closely monitor the State’s prestigious project. Similarly, the present Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy is tracking all the irrigation projects works regularly. Does this amount to political involvement?

Under former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao’s directions, Harish Rao had worked tirelessly, and the entire Telangana has been witness to his hard work and commitment. At times, to make sure works were being taken up in three shifts and as per schedule, Harish Rao had travelled to project sites in the forests during midnights.

In one case, when cavities in the tunnel halted the works, the former Minister roped in experts from other States. There have been several instances when he spent long hours in the tunnels. There was a sense of discipline and fear among officials that Harish Rao would conduct a surprise inspection of works even at odd hours.

All these relentless efforts put in by the former Irrigation Minister helped in completing the Kaleshwaram project in a record span of three years.