KLIS Barrages Work Began Without Mandatory Studies, Probe Told

Hyderabad: The ongoing judicial probe by Justice P.C. Ghose Commission into various aspects of Kaleshwaram project’s barrages continued to present new revelations with the panel being informed on Wednesday that construction of the barrages are Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla began even before the mandatory water availability studies at the locations were completed.

Chief engineer (hydrology) G. Shankar Naik of the irrigation department, responding to questions from Justice Ghose during cross-examination at the ongoing public hearings, said that the construction of the barrages began without the water availability study reports.

He further said that even the general alignment drawings as a rule should be prepared only after these reports are available, but indicated that in Kaleshwaram barrages case, this was not the case.

Justice Ghose, who questioned 15 more engineers of the irrigation department on Wednesday, yet again warned the officials to be truthful, and that anything contrary to the truth that is said, could well result in punishments. The Commission observed that officials appeared to be deliberately attempting to mislead it by giving incoherent and misleading responses to questions.

Meanwhile, adviser to the Union ministry of Jal Shakti, Sriram Vedire, on Wednesday submitted an affidavit to the Commission detailing his earlier deposition and updating it with information related to why the National Dam Safety Authority’s final report on the barrages was taking time.

Answering questions from reporters after submitting his affidavit to Justice Ghose, Vedire said one of the primary reasons for NDSA not being able to complete its work was the irrigation department not following the NDSA instructions, and also not completing all the measures it recommended.

“I also explained to Justice Ghose all these aspects, which are included in my affidavit. The NDSA is still waiting for reports from the state government and it has already said that it will require two months from the time it receives the reports to prepare its final report,” Vedire said.