KTR alleges Kodangal–Narayanpet–Makthal Lift Irrigation Scheme tender manipulation to favour Ponguleti’s company

BRS working president KT Rama Rao has accused the Congress government of manipulating tenders for the Kodangal–Narayanpet–Makthal Lift Irrigation Scheme to favour a company owned by Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, while questioning the project's sharp cost escalation.

Hyderabad: BRS working president KT Rama Rao has accused the Congress government of extending undue favours to a company owned by Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy in the Kodangal–Narayanpet–Makthal Lift Irrigation Scheme tenders.

“The project cost has escalated from Rs.1,450 crore to Rs.6,825 crore. Telangana’s wealth is being plundered in the name of projects, while the public is left waiting for water,” Rama Rao said.

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In a post on X, he alleged irregularities in the tendering process initiated by the Revanth Reddy-led government for the lift irrigation scheme. He pointed out that a company owned by Minister Ponguleti had participated in the bidding process.

Claiming that the other participating firms were merely “paper entities” or nominal companies, Rama Rao alleged that the entire process was orchestrated to ensure that only one company remained in the fray and eventually emerged as the winner.

The BRS working president also raised strong objections to the steep escalation in the project’s estimated cost. He pointed out that the cost, which stood at approximately Rs 1,450 crore in 2014, had now reached Rs 6,825 crore, marking an almost five-fold increase.

Rama Rao alleged that project estimates were being inflated in the name of construction. He further accused the government of manipulating the tendering process to ensure that contracts were awarded to favoured companies, leaving little scope for transparency.

“Heads they win, tails also they will only win. What a set-up! Congress MP Rahul Gandhiji, help me find a new word, please! Crony Capitalism, Daylight Robbery, Kleptocracy! All too small for this loot,” Rama Rao stressed.