Hyderabad: Chief minister A Revanth Reddy alleged that the Centre has remained silent on a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into alleged irregularities in the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme (KLIS), despite the state govt having written to it nine months ago seeking an inquiry and sending reminders.‘KLIS as ATM for BRS’The CM said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah had, on several occasions during their visits to Telangana, described the Kaleshwaram project as an ‘ATM’ for the BRS govt but were now silent. He also recalled that Union minister Kishan Reddy had said the Centre would arrest KCR and Harish Rao within 48 hours by ordering a CBI inquiry, which the Congress govt could not do. Revanth said BRS leaders Harish, B Vinod Kumar and Vaddiraju Ravichandra went to Delhi on Monday to ensure that the BJP does not order a CBI inquiry into the Kaleshwaram project through the RSS. He asked the BRS leaders to explain to the public why they had hurriedly travelled to Delhi. He added that the state govt could not remain silent if the BRS was being shielded by the BJP-led Centre.“The BRS claims its leaders went to Delhi to consult lawyers on the Kaleshwaram case. The Telangana high court has already completed arguments and reserved its order, and is expected to deliver its judgement on April 22. At this juncture, what is there to discuss with lawyers in the Supreme Court?” the CM questioned during a press conference on Monday.Will spare none: Revanth He, along with irrigation minister Uttam Kumar Reddy, inspected the Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla barrages and held a meeting with irrigation officials, National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) chairman Anil Jain, and others.The CM said the govt would not spare those responsible for irregularities in the Kaleshwaram project. At the same time, he added, the state govt would repair and rehabilitate the three barrages under the project and ensure water supply to farmers.Revanth said the Congress govt had proposed the Pranahitha–Chevella project in 2009 to irrigate 16.4 lakh acres across various districts using Godavari waters, at an estimated cost of 38,500 crore. About 11,700 crore had been spent on the project in both undivided Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.“After coming to power, KCR not only changed the project’s name from Pranahitha to Kaleshwaram, but also shifted its location from Thummidihatti to Medigadda and increased the project estimate from 38,500 crore to 1 lakh crore for commissions,” Revanth alleged. He said the BRS had spent nearly 1 lakh crore out of the total project cost of 1.50 lakh crore but failed to provide water even to one lakh acres.
