The sensational disclosure by the technical experts committee of the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) about serious engineering lapses in the Medigadda barrage of the mighty Kaleshwaram lift irrigation project built on Godavari river at a cost of nearly Rs one lakh crore came as a big shock to the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) led by chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao.
According to highly placed sources, the Centre is contemplating ordering an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the huge engineering lapses and fix the responsibility on the Centre.
It might also ask the lending agencies like banks and financial institutions to tighten the noose around the KCR government. Simultaneously, the BJP will make extensive campaign against the government.
It has also given a new weapon to Congress party and the visit of Rahul Gandhi to Medigadda compounded the woes of the KCR government.
Apparently realising that the issue is going to cause immense damage to the BRS in the coming elections, KCR reportedly asked his party leaders to maintain silence and not to respond to the opposition allegatons.
It may be mentioned that the NDSA declared the Medigadda barrage completely useless in the present condition unless it is fully rehabilitated.
It also sounded a note of caution for the other two barrages of Kaleshwaram project upstream – Annaram and Sundilla, which were also built with the same design and they might also have to be rehabilitated, if necessary.
The sinking of six pillars - from the 15th to the 20th - and probable weakening of the gates at the sixth, seventh and eighth blocks of Medigadda barrage came to light on October 21, with the irrigation authorities blocked the entire area for traffic and emptied the reservoir to carry out the inspections.
The committee also pointed out to the construction deficiency due to a lack of stringent quality control. There are deficiencies in the project planning and design as well. “While the barrage has been designed as a floating structure but constructed as a rigid structure,” it said.
That the magnitude of the financial loss and likely damage due to failure of the Barrages would be very high and the officials of Telangana Government are likely to do cover up and damage the records.
The BJOP asked the Centre to oversee the repairs and safety of three Kaleswaram Barrages to avoid human and property loss due to sudden damage to barrages and sudden release of river water, besides asking the CBI to probe the corruption angle, as loan money involved tothe tune of Rs. 80,000 Crores which was procured from Central Government Lending agencies and Public Sector Banks.
The BJP also asked the Centre to direct the Reserve Bank of India and Union Ministry of Power to conduct inquiry on the illegal allotment of loans to the Kaleswaram Corporation.
It also want the SFIO under Union Ministry of Corporate Affairs to conduct complete auditof Kaleswaram Corporation and its activities.