Though both BJP and Congress are principal political opponents at the national level, in Telangana they seem to be in collusion to prevent BRS chief and former chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao’s political revival. Though KCR lost power in recent assembly elections, these two parties are worried they can’t match him in popularity or political strategies.
They realized that their political fortunes will be at stake if KCR goes to the people. During his first meeting with the Prime Minister, Revanth Reddy as chief minister has reportedly agreed to work together to fix KCR in some or other administrative irregularities, so that makes it difficult to revive his political fortunes.
The ongoing probe by the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) into Medigadda barrage leaks is said to be taken as a golden opportunity to fix KCR. The NDSA has come to the preliminary conclusion that there was negligence in operation and management of the project at every stage and that many files were moved without the knowledge of the Engineer-in-Chief Muralidhran.
Muralidhar, who was in a key position as the Chief Engineer of the Irrigation Department for about 12 years period and was in charge of Kaleshwaram and Medigadda barrages from foundations to completion and recently resigned from the position of ENC and retired, was summoned by NDSA experts panel.
They questioned him on project designs, planning, construction of dams, quality of works, reports given by the quality control department and other issues. He was also questioned about the errors made at the field level in connection with the Kaleshwaram project, the reasons identified for the subsidence of the Medigadda barrage and other issues. But, however, to several questions they failed to get any positive response from him.
The NDSA panel is wondering that how the Dowleswaram irrigation barrage in Andhra Pradesh which was constructed in 1852 lasted till 1970 before being reconstructed and why is it that the newly constructed barrages like Medigadda under Kaleshwaram project developed cracks and piers sunk? This is the main issue on which the NDSA has begun its probe.
Moreover, now the entire focus is said to be turning towards KCR, who allegedly played a key role in designs and also implementation. Incidentally, KCR during his second term had kept Harish Rao out of cabinet for some time. Even after his re-inducted into the cabinet, he was given the Medical and Health portfolio.
During this period, the irrigation ministry was directly under KCR’s purview and he had directly monitored the Kaleshwaram project works as he knew what the shortcomings of the project were. The NDSA sources said it would probe into the role of KCR during 2018-2023 and Harish Rao between 2014 and 2018, when he was the Irrigation minister.
They would like to understand if there was any political interference in the designs and execution of the project. The NDSA has sought all the details of meetings held by KCR on project safety and his meetings with irrigation officials.
