Hyderabad: Telangana Irrigation Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao is expected to appear before the Kaleshwaram Project Inquiry Commission shortly, in connection with alleged irregularities and administrative lapses during the previous BRS regime. The inquiry, ordered by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, is currently reviewing witness depositions and project documentation, with sources indicating that the CM is preparing to publicly present key findings in the coming days.
Tummala’s forthcoming testimony is considered significant as he served as a cabinet member and was part of several sub-committees during the Kaleshwaram project’s implementation. Notably, his position reportedly differs from those of former ministers Harish Rao and Etela Rajender. While they claimed that the project was approved by the cabinet, Tummala has maintained that only executive permissions were granted, without formal cabinet clearance.
According to Tummala, the construction of the Medigadda Barrage began before cabinet or sub-committee review. He stated that on February 18, 2016, then-Engineer-in-Chief Muralidhar had proposed administrative sanction of Rs 2,591 crore for Medigadda. This was approved via GO No. 231 on March 1, 2016. The cabinet sub-committee, he claims, was formed only two weeks after the approval.
Tummala has reportedly submitted a detailed letter with supporting evidence to the P.C. Ghose-led commission. His deposition is expected to counter previous statements made by former Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao, Harish Rao, and Etela Rajender, who said the project received full cabinet approval. His appearance before the commission is likely to be a key turning point in the high-profile investigation.