Surekha-Ponguleti Rift: Medaram works shifted from Endowments to R&B department

The Telangana government has transferred Medaram Jathara works from Endowments to Roads & Buildings department, citing technical limitations. The move, seen as a snub to Minister Konda Surekha, has heightened political tensions with senior Congress leaders including Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy and CM Revanth Reddy.

Hyderabad: A day after the dramatic scenes at Endowments Minister Konda Surekha’s residence, the State government has decided to transfer the Medaram Jathara development works to the Roads and Buildings (R&B) department. Chief Secretary K Ramakrishna Rao has reportedly issued orders to this effect.

According to sources, the government cited the Endowments Department’s lack of technical expertise in executing large-scale infrastructure projects as the reason for the transfer. The R&B department will now take over the responsibility of executing and monitoring the works.

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Tenders for the works, which include laying roads and providing basic amenities to pilgrims, were floated earlier this month, and bids were received on October 10.

The Endowments Department has been directed to immediately hand over all related files and responsibilities to the R&B department.

However, this has further intensified the political power tussle between Surekha and senior Congress leaders on the other side, reportedly including Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy.

The repercussions of the move, an obvious snub for Surekha, could trigger more revelations from the Konda camp, where Surekha’s daughter Sushmita had already accused Revanth Reddy, Ponguleti and Vem Narender Reddy of ganging up against her parents over the Medaram contracts.