Hyderabad: The Congress govt has decided to table in the state assembly on Sunday the Justice PC Ghose Commission’s probe report on the alleged irregularities and engineering failures that led to damage of three barrages in the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme (KLIS), built during the previous BRS regime.The decision was taken at the state cabinet meeting on Saturday, which also cleared a Bill to amend provisions of the Telangana Panchayat Raj Act (2018) and the Telangana Municipalities Act (2019). The amendment would enable the government to breach the 50 per cent cap on reservations for BCs, SCs, and STs that had been imposed by the previous BRS govt. Though ministers Ponnam Prabhakar and Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy briefed the media about the cabinet’s decisions on the quota issue, they avoided mentioning the Kaleshwaram probe. However, highly placed sources confirmed to TOI that the cabinet had resolved to place the Ghose report in the assembly on Sunday—the second day of the monsoon session. Alongside this, the govt will also introduce the Backward Classes Bills, which seek to remove the 50% cap on reservations to enable the implementation of 42% quota in local body elections.The stage is set for a stormy debate, with the BRS already accusing the Congress of pursuing vendetta politics, particularly against its president and former chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao. The Ghose Commission has reportedly held him accountable for the collapse of major components of the flagship irrigation project.Discussions on both the Kaleshwaram report and the 42 per cent BC quota Bill are expected to keep the House in session until late Sunday evening. Chief minister A Revanth Reddy is scheduled to leave for Kerala in the morning to attend a programme hosted by AICC general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal. If he is unable to initiate the debate, irrigation minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy will lead the discussion. The CM is expected to return by evening to participate. Adding fuel to the political heat, roads and buildings minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy demanded that KCR personally attend the assembly and respond to the serious charges. “If KCR avoids a debate, the people of Telangana will conclude that he is indeed responsible for the collapse of Kaleshwaram barrages and is running away from accountability,” he alleged. Meanwhile, the business advisory committee (BAC) will take a final call on the duration of the session. The BAC, comprising members of the assembly and legislative council, met on Saturday evening after the assembly was adjourned. Speaker G Prasad Kumar, council chairman Gutha Sukhender Reddy, and leaders from various parties participated. However, BRS leader T Harish Rao staged a walkout, demanding that the House first take up pressing issues such as urea shortage, flood damage, viral fevers, deaths in gurukul schools, and the Bharat Future City land issue.Addressing the media later, Harish Rao insisted that the monsoon session be extended to at least 15 days. “Villages are still without electricity and drinking water. Flood-hit people are suffering. The assembly must first debate the loss of lives, property, crops, and the urea shortage. Both BJP and Congress are only blaming each other over this,” he said.He also questioned the govt’s decision to finalise the assembly agenda late at night, leaving little time for the opposition to prepare. AIMIM floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi echoed the demand for a 15-day session to discuss rains, floods, welfare schemes, and other public issues. Meanwhile, the BRS has requested permission from the speaker to make a powerpoint presentation on the Kaleshwaram project, a decision on which is still pending.
