Seven Top Officers Appear Before Ghose Panel in Kaleshwaram Probe

Seven Top  Officers Appear Before Ghose Panel in Kaleshwaram Probe

On Monday, seven top officers, both serving and retired from the IAS cadre, appeared before the Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose inquiry commission. The commission is investigating alleged irregularities and embezzlement of funds during the construction of the Medigadda, Annaram, and Sundilla barrages, part of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme (KLIS).

The officers, including former chief secretaries and department heads from irrigation and finance, were directed to file affidavits within a week detailing developments during their tenure. Special Chief Secretary (Finance) K Rama Krishna Rao requested an extension until August 5 due to the upcoming budget session.

Notable attendees included former Chief Secretaries Somesh Kumar and SK Joshi, former Special Chief Secretaries Rajat Kumar and K Rama Krishna Rao, CMO ex-Secretary Smita Sabharwal, Irrigation Secretary Rahul Bojja, and senior IAS officer Vikas Raj. While most deposed in person, SK Joshi appeared via video conference. Former Principal Secretary (Finance) V Nagi Reddy did not attend.

Justice Ghose's inquiries focused on project details, borrowing through Kaleshwaram Corporation, contract procedures, extensions, payments to agencies, defect liability periods, and construction quality. Smita Sabharwal, currently with the TS Finance Corporation, informed the commission that her tenure as irrigation secretary was brief and she did not clear any major files.

Several officers stated that key technical and financial decisions were made by then Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and departmental officials, with their roles limited to final approvals. The commission also reviewed expert testimonies suggesting Medigadda was not the ideal location for a barrage, with some advocating for Thummidi Hatti instead.

Engineer K Raghu presented evidence to the commission, highlighting sufficient water availability at Thummidi Hatti, reinforcing the expert committee’s earlier recommendations.

#Telangana #Kaleshwaram #Medigadda 

Courtesy / Source by :  https://x.com/sudhakarudumula/status/1813053248926064792?t=xvgnnYg_tOP-vZ_sGbLq7g&s=19