Hans News Service Hyderabad

Irrigationand Civil Supplies Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy on Friday alleged that the structural failures in the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme owed to poor-quality construction, arbitrary deviations from the approved design and above all a contractor-politician nexus.

Citing BRS chief , KCR's daughter K Kavitha's allegation that Rs 1,400 crore was received from Kaleshwaram contractors by the BRS, he claimed the "inside story" behind the project explained why Medigadda collapsed and why Annaram and Sundilla were also in a precarious condition.

The Minister further alleged that two of the Kaleshwaram barrages were constructed nearly five kilometres away from the location approved in the Detailed Project Report (DPR), calling it a glaring example of engineering deviations that had endangered the project's structural integrity.

“When the former Chief Minister’s daughter says that Rs 1,400 crore was received from Kaleshwaram contractors, the BRS leadership owed an explanation to the people of Telangana,” Uttam Kumar Reddy said.

He alleged that the purported financial relationship between the ruling party and the project contractors compromised engineering standards, construction quality and public safety.

“When money is allegedly received from contractors on a quid pro quo basis, what quality of construction can the people expect?” the Minister asked.

Uttam Kumar Reddy said Kavitha’s allegation assumed greater significance in the backdrop of the partial collapse of the Medigadda Barrage and the serious structural and foundation-related problems subsequently identified at Annaram and Sundilla.

He alleged that the failure of Medigadda and the precarious condition of the other two barrages were the consequences of poor design, substandard construction, weak supervision and the neglect of sound engineering principles during the BRS government.