Revanth to Unearth All Data on Kaleshwaram

Hyderabad: With L&T, contractor of the Medigadda barrage which sank in October, disowning responsibility to pay for the repairs, the state government is caught in a piquant situation.  

At a high-level review on the irrigation sector, in particular the contentious Kaleswaram lift irrigation scheme, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Sunday directed officials to furnish all the details concerning the project.

He sought to know who were involved in the project from the conceptual stage till its execution. The meeting took note of the discrepancy in the claims of the previous BRS government that L&T would bear the cost of repairs as part of the defect liability clause and that the company was seeking additional funds from the government.

The construction major on December 2 had dashed off a letter expressing its inability to take up the preliminary works like building a cofferdam that would prevent water flow to the barrage, and permit engineers to investigate the damage at the bottom of the piers.

According to an official press release, Revanth Reddy also wanted to know the full details pertaining to the irrigation projects built after 2014, including details of their design and the expenditure incurred by the state government.

The meeting, attended by irrigation minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy and senior irrigation officials, discussed about the state’s stand to be put forth before the Krishna Tribunal which would soon take up the issue of river water allocation between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

The officials were asked to take steps to provide adequate irrigation facility during the Yasangi season. Revanth Reddy made several suggestions on the availability of water and other issues. He was keen that the inter-state water disputes be addressed at a fast pace, according to CMO press release.