Kaleshwaram probe all set for extension

HYDERABAD: The judicial probe into the construction, upkeep and the causes that led to the disrepair of the Kaleshwaram project’s barrages, could wind up by the end of this year, it is learnt. Formal orders extending by two more months the term of the judicial commission of inquiry headed by Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose, which ended on October 31, are expected to be issued soon.

While the commission’s report is hoped to be received by the government by the end of this year, the irrigation department too is hoping that the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) will submit its final technical report by December 31. It is only after this report is received that the department can begin planning its next steps towards possible restoration of the damaged Medigadda, Annaram, and Sundilla barrages.

Meanwhile, Justice Ghose, who had been conducting open public hearings of questioning of present and past irrigation department officials, has been provided with a copy of the interim report of the Vigilance and Enforcement Wing (V&E)’s investigations into the planning and design lapses, and financials with respect of the three barrages. He has also been given a report by a technical committee comprising of irrigation engineers on design aspects of the barrages recently.

These two documents, combined with the evidence provided during the hearings, and the affidavits submitted so far to the commission by all those who have been questioned, is expected to provide substantial inputs for the commission in preparing its final report. It is also expected that when Justice Ghose takes up the next part of his inquiries, he could summon IAS officers, current and former, who are holding and were holding important decision-making positions in the irrigation department with respect to key decisions taken with respect to the barrages.

While the commission itself has not said anything on who else will be questioned by it, it is believed that the next round of depositions could include political leaders who took, or were part of the Kaleshwaram project’s decision-making process. It may be recalled that several of the irrigation department engineers had named either the former chief minister K. Chandrashekar Rao, or the then irrigation minister T. Harish Rao, as those whose instructions were followed by them with respect to the planning, and construction of the barrages and their functioning.

Sources said that as far as work to be done on the barrages, it will be only after corrective steps are suggested by the NDSA in its final report, and the required designs for these steps are prepared by the irrigation department’s engineers, or the Central Designs Organisation (CDO) of the department. The target is to get all of the work done by summer next so the barrages can be ready for next year’s monsoon season, a senior official said.