Hyderabad: Former Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) is facing new legal challenges as a Vigilance investigation into the Mid-Maneru project has brought to light serious issues of negligence. This comes amidst ongoing scrutiny over the Kaleshwaram project’s barrages and the Bhadradri Thermal Plant cases.
In 2016, the Mid-Maneru dam collapsed, prompting an initial inquiry by the BRS government, but the investigation was reportedly superficial, with no conclusive report made public. Now, the Congress government in Telangana has expedited the investigation, with Vigilance officers revealing alarming findings. The report states that the collapse occurred due to a structural flaw, where the height of the spillway was raised above the earth embankment. Despite the risks of flood-induced failure, officials and contractors allegedly ignored the issue.
The Vigilance report also highlights significant lapses in both the contractor’s and officials’ responsibilities. The contractor’s negligence reportedly caused a 130-meter loss in the earth embankment, and despite an initial budget of Rs 122.30 crore for the project, costs were inflated to Rs 347 crore after the contractor was sidelined. The state government is now reviewing the report, and sources suggest that KCR may be issued a notice as part of the ongoing investigation.