1 Year On, KCR, Harish, Etala Yet to be Probed in KLIS Scam
Justice Ghose is expected to be back in Hyderabad on May 15 to resume work at the commission’s office in BRK Bhavan near the Secretariat, and is believed to be preparing to submit his report to the government in the last week of this month
Hyderabad: With just about three weeks before the term of the Justice P.C. Ghose judicial commission probing various aspects of the construction of Kaleshwaram project’s three barrages and subsequent damage ends on May 31, the one question that continues to hang in the balance is whether or not key figures in the then BRS government – former chief minister K. Chandrashekar Rao and former irrigation minister T Harish Rao – will be called for a cross-examination.
During multiple cross-examinations of current and former officials from the irrigation, and finance departments, and the then Chief Minister’s Office, the commission was informed that the final calls on several critical decisions on planning, and execution of construction of the barrages were taken by the ‘political leadership’.
Several officials had also acknowledged that this meant final calls with regard to the Sundilla, Annaram, and Medigadda barrages were made either by Chandrashekar Rao, or by Harish Rao.
Representatives of three companies that built the barrages – Navayuga (Sundilla), Afcons (Annaram), and L&T PES-JV (Medigadda) too, during their cross examinations by the commission, informed during questioning that there were times when the final decisions were taken by Chandrashekar Rao, and Harish Rao.
During his second term as Chief Minister, when the construction was completed and the three barrages were put to use, and began developing serious problems under their foundations, Chandrashekar Rao also held the irrigation portfolio. He, and the BRS had claimed many times that the former CM ‘designed’ the Kaleshwaram scheme and was its ‘engineer’.
Now, with the last extension of the commission’s term coming to an end on May 31 — the commission has received five extensions so far — it still remains uncertain if these two leaders will face cross-examination. Though there were indications during the previous phases of cross-examinations that Chandrashekar Rao, Harish Rao, and even then finance minister Etala Rajendar, now a BJP MP, were likely to be summoned, this has not happened so far.
Justice Ghose is expected to be back in Hyderabad on May 15 to resume work at the commission’s office in BRK Bhavan near the Secretariat, and is believed to be preparing to submit his report to the government in the last week of this month.
