What Measures is Telangana Taking on the Ghose Commission Report Regarding Kaleshwaram?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Telangana government forms a committee to study the Ghose Commission report.
- Committee includes key department secretaries.
- Findings to be presented to the State Cabinet on August 4.
- Discussion on potential actions against officials involved.
- Commission identified irregularities during the construction of the Kaleshwaram project.
Hyderabad, Aug 1 (NationPress) The Telangana government has established a committee aimed at meticulously examining the findings of the P.C. Ghose Commission, which investigated the purported irregularities linked to the construction of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project. The goal is to create a comprehensive summary of the report.
This committee comprises the Secretaries of the Irrigation, Law, and General Administration Departments as members.
It is expected to deliver its detailed findings to the State Cabinet on August 4.
The Cabinet will deliberate on the Commission's discoveries and recommendations and decide on the necessary follow-up actions.
On Thursday, the Commission submitted a report spanning approximately 700 pages to Irrigation Secretary Rahul Bojja.
On Friday, Chief Secretary Ramakrishna Rao and other officials presented the report to Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, with Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, and Revenue Minister P. Srinivas Reddy in attendance.
The Chief Minister held discussions with his Cabinet colleagues to determine the next steps regarding the report.
The Commission has reportedly identified several irregularities in the construction of the large-scale project across the Godavari River, attributed to the previous government led by the Bharat Rashtra Samithi.
The Cabinet will decide on any criminal actions against individuals found culpable following their discussions.
The government is also considering departmental actions against officials determined to be at fault, as indicated by the Commission's findings.
The Commission, which is headed by retired Supreme Court judge Pinaki Chandra Ghose, investigated alleged discrepancies in the planning, design, construction, quality control, operation, and maintenance of the Medigadda, Annaram, and Sundilla Barrages of the Kaleshwaram project.
Initially formed on March 14, 2024, to look into these allegations, the Commission has conducted over 115 witness interviews, including engineers and both retired and current officials associated with the barrages.
In October 2023, some piers of the Medigadda Barrage collapsed. Following the Congress party's acquisition of power in December 2024, a probe was initiated by the Vigilance Department. The National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) was also solicited to investigate all facets of this massive project.
After initial findings by the Vigilance Department indicated irregularities, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy announced a judicial inquiry during an Assembly debate.
The Commission's term has been extended seven times since its initial conclusion on June 30, 2024. Most recently, it was prolonged until July 31.
After the last extension, the Commission summoned former Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) and former ministers T. Harish Rao and Eatala Rajender.
KCR appeared before the Commission on June 11, during which he was reportedly questioned regarding the project's redesign and the policies and financial decisions made during its construction.
The BRS has denied any allegations of corruption concerning the Kaleshwaram project, labeling the summoning of KCR as a politically motivated act by the Congress administration.