All the opposition parties and revolutionary organizations in the state of Telangana have demanded with open arms that an inquiry should be conducted by the sitting judge of the High Court on the corruption and irregularities in the Kaleswaram project. They said that criminal cases should be registered and arrested against Megha Krishna Reddy who is responsible for shoddy construction. It has been decided to conduct an in-depth review with engineering experts and intellectuals on the fate of the project. Under the chairmanship of Telangana Journalist Forum President Palle Ravi Kumar, both the auspices of the Engineers Forum and Social Media Forum are campaigning to conduct an official check on the quality and status of the Kaleshwaram project. Questions regarding the quality of work and the misuse of lakhs of crores of public money were raised. A round table meeting was held at Somajiguda Press Club on the topic of accounts and facts distortion that took place regarding the prestigious project. It was attended by leaders of all parties, engineers, senior journalists, and activists. Telangana Engineers Forum President Dontula Lakshminarayana gave a PowerPoint presentation on the Kaleswaram project.
Congress campaign committee chairman Madhuyashki said that Megha Krishna Reddy, the contractor who did the cheap quality work in the construction of the Kaleswaram project, which was undertaken with public funds of Rs.1.20 lakh crore, should be immediately arrested. He alleged that Telangana is suffering from injustice and now CM KCR is looting the free state that was achieved by the holistic movement. He went on to say that whatever the state has achieved in these 8 years is suppressing the questioning voices. He alleged KCR of focusing on increasing his personal assets defining it as development. He made it clear that KCR’s schemes are nothing short of begging and that the Congress party is ready to fight against corruption in Telangana. He said that if Krishna Reddy is arrested, the corruption of the Kalvakuntla family will be exposed. He alleged that TRS MLAs and ministers are corrupt and are constructing massive buildings, while the common people of the state aren’t given the double bedroom houses that were promised. He said that the entire Telangana is suffering today due to the corruption of TRS. Madhuyashki said that it is the responsibility of all of us to question Chief Minister KCR on these corruption activities.
Telangana Jana Samithi president Kodandaram was furious with KCR Sarkar’s governance. He said that Kaleswaram was solely a medium of amassing money for the politicians of TRS. He also lashed out at the government for wrongly constructing the Kaleshwaram project and submerging a lot more villages than expected. He demanded criminal action against the erring state government. He fired that KCR is not working for the welfare of the people but focusing on increasing the assets.
Former MLA Vannala Sriramulu said that the BJP government will not let anyone do corruption. He said that the Center will definitely take action against corruption and irregularities in Kaleswaram. He asked for a review with engineering experts on the Kaleswaram flood. BSP leader Dayananda Rao said that Krishna Reddy, the contractor who made substandard constructions in the Kaleshwaram project, should be arrested immediately. He demanded that the central government take action against the state government.
Aam Aadmi Party leader Indira Shobhan said that there is a need to immediately arrest CM KCR who is responsible for the corruption in the Kaleswaram project. He affirmed that this matter is not to be taken lightly, further he demanded a CBI investigation. Senior journalist Pasam Yadagiri said that along with CM KCR, the engineers and contractors were working to loot. He criticized that all the parties are keeping silent and all the projects of KCR have deceived the people.
Conclusions made in the round table meeting
1. Due to the mistakes made in the construction and re-design of the Kaleshwaram project, the structures of the Kaleshwaram project collapsed and the water submerged all the pumps. Telangana government is responsible for this. Action should be taken against the Megha Engineering Company which has undertaken the construction. Legal action should be taken against those responsible in the government.
2. An investigation should be conducted by the High Court sitting judge on the construction failures and corruption of the Kaleswaram project.
3. The gazette issued by the Central Government illegally taking over the constructions on the Godavari and Krishna rivers should be withdrawn immediately.
4. On the one hand, the ministers of the central government and NITI Aayog heads praised the Kaleshwaram project. On the other hand, they declared that the project cannot be given national status in Parliament. This dualism is not good. Isn’t it unfair to Telangana?
5. The height of the Polavaram project should be reduced. Inundation of tribals should be avoided. 7 mandals that were merged in Andhra Pradesh should be transferred back to Telangana.
6. Political parties, public associations, experts, and Telangana civil society as a whole should examine the construction failures and corruption of the Kaleshwaram project. The truth should be explained to society.
On this occasion, the President of Telangana Journalists’ Forum, Palle Ravi Kumar, said that those who have affection and respect for Telangana must form a fact-finding committee with expert engineers. A big mistake has been made in the Kaleswaram project and they want to think about how to correct it now. He said that the government should move forward inclusive of everyone without going to extremes and it is the responsibility of everyone to ensure that the mistake does not happen again. In this program, Congress senior representatives Addanki Dayakar, Bellaiah Naik, Palamuru study venue convener Raghavachari, YSR Telangana party leaders Epuru Somanna, Movement leaders Dr. Prithviraj, Kathi Venkataswamy, Jayasaradhi Reddy, Bhagavan Reddy, Telangana Vitthal, Engineer Vitthal Rao, Telangana Social Media Forum. President Karunakar Reddy, leaders of Telangana Journalist Forum Mekala Krishna, Palakuri Raju, Pogula Prakash, Nagarjun Reddy, Swami Muddam and others were present.