Rs 1 lakh Cr spent on Kaleshwaram,not even one lakh acres irrigated: Revanth Reddy

MEDIGADDA: Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Tuesday blamed the earlier BRS Government for the sagging of three piers of the Medigadda Barrage and said that the project cost crossed Rs 1 lakh crore to irrigate just 19.63 lakh acres of ayacut.

Revanth Reddy took led a tour of law makers belonging to the Congress, the AIMIM and the CPI from the Assembly in Hyderabad to the Barrage on Tuesday and inspected the damaged portion of the Barrage and held a review meeting with incharge Chief Engineer of I&CAD Sudhakar Reddy and DG Vigilance Rajiv Ratan.

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The Chief Minister highlighted that the power bill of running the entire Kaleshwaram project would cost Rs 10,500 crore per year. "Still there is a need to spend Rs 2 lakh crore to complete the project. Land acquisition alone would cost another Rs 5,438 crore," said.

White Paper to be presented

He said that the Government would release a white paper on irrigation during the budget session. "The ‘Chalo Nalgonda’ was a diversion tactic to deflect attention of people away from Medigadda tour," Revanth Reddy said.

He urged KCR to attend the Assembly on Wednesday and participate in a debate on white paper on irrigation. He wanted the former CM to openly company and engineers for the sagging of pillars of Medigadda.

He said that KCR was shying away from attending the Assembly because he was the real culprit. "He was the chief engineer of Kaleshwaram that sunk. He says he was still recovering to attend the Assembly but today he goes to Nalgonda," CM said.

He refuted allegations of the BRS that his Government handed over management of common projects to KRMB.

Criminal investigation into project

Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy said that the Government would opt for a criminal investigation into the damages of Kaleshwaram Barrages. He said that the Government would fully cooperate with the CDSA to take the inquiry forward.He said that the BRS Government never allowed opposition leaders to visit the project. The CDSA, CAG and the Vigilance and Enforcement authorities also mentioned discrepancies.

He said that the Government held back Rs 400 crore pending for payment and said that Government sought the involvement of that company in repairing the Barrage. “The CDSA will be inquiring on the issue and advising the Government on the way forward,” the Minister said.