Ghose panel holds KCR responsible for Kaleshwaram irregularities

In Telangana, the Justice PC Ghose Commission has held former Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao directly and indirectly responsible for irregularities in planning, execution, operation and maintenance of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project in the state. The Commission also found the then Irrigation Minister, T Harish Rao, who is KCR’s nephew, responsible for the irregularities.

State Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy presented the report by the Ghose Commission on irregularities in the Kaleshwaram project at a Cabinet meeting. An official release stated that despite an expert committee advising against the Kaleshwaram project, the KCR government deliberately suppressed the report. Headed by former Supreme Court judge, Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose, the one-man commission submitted its report to the Telangana government on 31st last month. The Commission probed the alleged irregularities in planning, design, construction, quality control, operation and maintenance of Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla Barrages of the Kaleshwaram project.

In addition to KCR, the Commission has named several other key officials. The then Irrigation minister T Harish Rao has been held responsible for suppressing expert advice, and then Finance Minister Eatala Rajender has been criticised for failing to ensure financial oversight. Senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers and engineers were found to have suppressed facts, submitted false evidence, and failed in their duties related to safety and maintenance.

The report recommends strong legal action against those involved and recovery of misused public funds. The Justice PC Ghose Commission concluded that the failures were not incidental but stemmed from deliberate decisions that violated government business rules and disregarded expert warnings, resulting in enormous financial and structural damage.