Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy reiterated his government’s commitment to investigate the deficiencies and faulty designs in Kaleshwaram project that have cost the State exchequer enormously and those found guilty would be punished.
Intervening in the short discussion on the White Paper on Finances in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, the Minister said that despite significant spending, borrowed at high interest the project has proved to be disastrous. After spending nearly ₹ 1 lakh crores it could only bring an additional ayacut of just above one lakh acres. Similarly, not a single additional acre was brought under cultivation after spending ₹25,000 crore on the Palamuru Rangareddy project and ₹7,500 crore for Sitaramasagar project.
Stating that the Medigadda barrage incident was criminal negligence, he said Irrigation department engineers were mum indicating that it was former Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao who had designed the project despite the lack of technical knowledge. Since the pillars caved in on October 21 he did not utter a single word reflecting his lack of responsibility.
