HYDERABAD: The Justice (retd) P C Ghose Commission, probing Medigadda barrage’s sinking piers and leakages in Annaram and Sundilla barrages as part of the Kaleshwaram project, is likely to summon former chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao for questioning.
Sources told TOI that the commission, which received a two-month extension recently to complete its probe before Dec 31, is expected to submit the report in the next 30 days.
A majority of the irrigation engineers and secretaries, who deposed before Justice Ghose, have said that they simply followed the directions from the top bosses and KCR who was then chief minister. Among those who have already deposed are officers linked to the irrigation wing, the project wing, designs and drawings department, quality wing and the operations and maintenance wing.
Former engineer-inchief (ENC) of Ramagundam, Nalla Venkateshwaralu, had told the commission that even the decision to construct a barrage at Medigadda and to fill the three barrages to their full capacity throughout the year was made at the top. While consultancy firm WAPCOS prepared the designs and drawings, the detailed project reports (DPRs) were approved by KCR, he said.
Lapses in operation of 3 barrages: Panel
The retired engineers’ committee, appointed by the BRS govt, also said that they suggested Thummidihatti as the location for the barrage, but KCR shifted the location to Medigadda. Another retired ENC, C Muralidhar, reportedly told the commission that officers and engineers simply implemented directions from the govt and the then chief minister.
The commission inquired into the cost escalation of the three barrages, issuing of completion certificates to the barrages, and alleged lapses in their operation and maintenance.
The commission collected documents related to the three barrages from the irrigation officials. It also took the vigilance and enforcement (VE) report and the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) preliminary report into consideration. Some officers faced over 100 questions on their role in the project.
