‘Govt. contemplating inquiry by retired SC judge into Medigadda pier-sinking incident’

Action would be initiated against more officials once the final report is submitted by the Vigilance and Enforcement department probing the sinking of three piers at Medigadda barrage, Advocate General A. Sudarshan Reddy told Telangana High Court on Monday.

Responding to a query from a bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Anil Kumar Jukanti hearing a PIL petition over Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme, the AG said the State government had written to the National Dam Safety Authority to inquire into the sinking of piers at Medigadda and submit a report on the matter. Explaining the government’s stand on the matter, the AG told the bench that the government had already terminated the services of Ramagundam Engineer-in-Chief N.Venkateswarlu. Another Engineer-in-Chief (General) of Irrigation department was directed to tender his resignation.

The AG told the bench that the government was contemplating a judicial inquiry by a retired judge of Supreme Court or High Court in the matter under Section 3(1) of the Commission of Inquiry Act-1952. Mr. Sudarshan Reddy informed the HC that the government, in a communication on February 13, had asked the NDSA to conduct a thorough inspection, study the design, construction, operation and maintenance of the barrages at Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla.