Former Officials Discuss Medigadda Barrage Issues
Hyderabad: Former Chief Secretary SK Joshi and former Irrigation Secretary Rajat Kumar have revealed that former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao (KCR) made the decision to construct the Medigadda barrage. They also pointed out that flaws in design, poor operation and maintenance (O&M), and improper gate maintenance might have caused the damage to the barrage’s piers.
The Justice Ghose Commission resumed its investigation into alleged irregularities in the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project and the damage to three barrages, including Medigadda and Annaram. On Wednesday, Joshi and Rajat Kumar attended an open house inquiry conducted by the Commission.
During the inquiry, Joshi answered several questions about the shelving of earlier projects such as Pranahita-Chevella and Tummidihatti. He explained that the Central Water Commission (CWC) had advised against Pranahita, citing inadequate water resources. He also revealed that KCR decided to construct the Medigadda barrage without forming a Cabinet Subcommittee.
Joshi further disclosed that the Kaleshwaram project was financed using loans obtained through the Kaleshwaram Corporation, as the state budget alone was insufficient. However, no bonds were issued to mobilize funds. He admitted he was unaware of any high-power committee for the project but mentioned the existence of a technical committee.
The Medigadda barrage was built to address high inundation on the Maharashtra side. Joshi stated that the Kaleshwaram project was completed through 28 packages and 8 links, with approximately 200 permissions issued at various stages.
Rajat Kumar, in his statement to the Commission, said that improper gate operations might have contributed to the damage at Medigadda. He noted that KCR had presented the project in the Assembly in 2015, with official approval granted in 2016. He also mentioned that the three barrages were used primarily for water storage to facilitate lifting.
Kumar explained that repairs to the damaged barrages could not be carried out due to restrictions imposed by the election code. When questioned about the cause of the pier damage, he suggested that it might have been due to a lack of sand under the barrage foundation or issues with quality control.
The Commission continues to investigate the irregularities and structural issues surrounding the Kaleshwaram project, aiming to determine accountability for the reported damages.
