KCR Exposed in KLIS Project Scam: Uttam

HYDERABAD: The previous BRS government was solely responsible for the collapse of the Kaleshwaram project in what was “the biggest man-made disaster since Independence and the most expensive engineering failure caused by any state government in India,” irrigation minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy declared on Tuesday.Then chief minister K. Chandrashekar Rao, who was also irrigation minister in his second term, and T. Harish Rao, irrigation minister in the BRS’ first term, stood exposed after the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA)’s final report on Medigadda, Annaram, and Sundilla barrages. “It was their inefficiency, negligence, and deliberate mismanagement,” that caused the disaster which cost the state more than Rs 1 lakh crore, Uttam Kumar Reddy said.Addressing a press meet on the NDSA report, during which he also gave a presentation on the NDSA’s findings, Uttam Kumar Reddy said the disaster at the barrages was the result of the then BRS’ government’s “irresponsible decisions.” It dealt “a serious blow forever to Telangana’s finances and to the lives of farmers,” he noted and added, “The state is paying `16,000 crore a year towards Kaleshwaram’s loan repayments.”Uttam Kumar Reddy slammed the BRS and the former chief minister, saying it was “outrageous and shameful” on part of Chandrashekar Rao to attack the NDSA’s credibility and question its expertise. “The Kaleshwaram disaster destroyed Telangana’s credibility. Because of this, the ministry of jal shakti sought cross-checking pf the Sitaramasagar project saying it cannot be considered given the Medigadda and Kaleshwaram problems. We, as a responsible government, provided all the information required and obtained permissions for this project,” he said.The NDSA, he said, recommended urgent stabilisation, repair, and rehabilitation of the damaged structures, and the need for expert-driven technical intervention. He assured that the Congress government would take all necessary steps. “All decisions will be taken after discussing the report in the Cabinet. Action will follow as per law. Those who gave the orders that led to this disaster will be held accountable,” he said.Uttam Kumar Reddy said the Kaleshwaram project was not based on scientific principles. There was no detailed project report (DPR) and it was submitted well after construction started. The NDSA report confirmed serious and multiple lapses in planning, design, construction, and operation and maintenance of the barrages resulting in serious damages. Locations of Annaram and Sundilla barrages were changed without any studies, and the barrages were used like dams,a purpose for which they were not designed.“Signs of seepage and damage were noticed as early as 2019, but the BRS government ignored them. This was criminal negligence,” he said. The barrages were designed to regulate just 2 to 3 tmc ft of river water. However, over 10 tmc ft was stored in each just so KCR could claim a ‘live Godavari 365 days a year’ purely for publicity. This storage caused foundation damages and eventual collapse, he added.On the BRS abandoning the Dr B.R. Ambedkar Pranahita-Chevella project at Tummadihatti, he said the BRS claimed there was no water there, which was a lie. The project cost was escalated and public money was wasted. That the Kaleshwaram project’s importance was overblown was proved with Telangana achieving record paddy production in the Yasangi season under the Congress government.Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy said NDSA report found:Lack of proper geo-technical investigations;Design deficienciesFailure of modelling studiesConstruction defectsAbsence of robust quality controlStructural distressFailure of operations & maintenance protocolsIgnoring dam safety protocols



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