Uttam, Ponnam Dismiss Kishan Remarks on Kaleshwaram

Congress ministers N. Uttam Kumar Reddy and Ponnam Prabhakar on Tuesday dismissed state BJP chief G. Kishan Reddy’s allegation of a BRS-Congress nexus on the Kaleshwaram project, announcing that a judicial probe into the barrage collapse would begin this week.

Addressing a press conference at the Dr B.R. Ambedkar Secretariat on Tuesday, irrigation and civil supplies minister Uttam Kumar Reddy refuted the allegations made by Kishan Reddy, asserting that "they were far from reality".

He highlighted that the BRS government in Telangana and the BJP government at the Centre had collaborated for nearly 3,500 days, and that the BJP government helped the BRS government secure loans from Central agencies and banks.   

Citing instances, Uttam Kumar Reddy stated that the Power Finance Corporation, a Central agency for funding the power sector, amended its memorandum of articles to provide a loan of Rs.1.20 lakh crore to the Kaleshwaram project.

Similarly, he pointed out that the Rural Electrification Corporation, established solely for electrification-related issues, arranged a loan of Rs.60,000 crore for the Kaleshwaram project.

He noted that it was unprecedented in the history of independent India for two Central agencies designed for power-related subjects to fund an irrigation project by changing their



rules.

He criticised the BJP for their silence when the project cost escalated from Rs.80,000 crore, as approved by the Central Working Commission, to a whopping Rs.1.27 lakh crore.

"The redesigning and re-engineering of the Kaleshwaram project went unquestioned, with no due diligence by the BJP Government at the Centre," he said.

In another press meet, BC welfare minister Ponnam Prabhakar said the people of Telangana knew who had stood by the BRS and stopped the probe into the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme.

"The BRS, BJP and MIM are together… who stopped them from ordering a CBI inquiry into the Kaleshwaram project? The Congress government is ordering a judicial probe, which will start once a High Court or Supreme Court judge is assigned. We will ensure all ill-gotten public money is recovered and will not spare the culprits," he said.

"Looks like the BJP is worried that a retired judge will probe the issue. What has happened to the umpteen CBI inquiries ordered into Sahara and liquor scams by the BJP so far? Looks like they intend to save the culprits using the CBI. Who ensured the victory of BJP in Goshamahal? Why did not the MIM field its candidate there? The three parties are worried about the launch of Praja Palana by the Congress," he said.