Kaleshwaram Project: Barrages Approved Without Cabinet Consent

• General

• December 20, 2024

During her hearing before the Kaleshwaram Commission, Smita Sabharwal, a former Secretary to the Chief Minister's Office, said that the sanction accorded for Medigadda Barrage had not been subjected to the test of the cabinet. Another similar reply came from Somesh Kumar who worked as the Secretary, Irrigation Department, and eventually, State Chief Secretary, "I do not have recollections on barrages.".

During the hearing, Justice PC Ghosh questioned both the officials on the three barrages of the Kaleshwaram project and alterations made to the Pranahita-Chevella scheme in a hearing held at the office of the Kaleshwaram Commission in BRK Bhavan, Hyderabad.

Unclear Accountability in Key Decisions

Justice Ghosh cross-examined Smita Sabharwal, now Secretary of the Youth Welfare and Tourism Department. She asked him about his term as Secretary to the CM and whether proposals related to Medigadda, Annaram, and Sundilla barrages were put before the cabinet.

• Sabharwal said that she had been Secretary since June 2014 when the change of government happened, but could not confirm all proposals were placed before the cabinet.
• Regarding changes to packages 6-12 of the Pranahita-Chevella lift irrigation system under G.O. 776, she stated that she was not aware of any changes being made to speed up the work or any decisions related to diverting water from Yellampally to Komuravelli-Mallannasagar.

Justice Ghosh raised a question as to whether major financial and administrative decisions were taken without cabinet approval. Sabharwal admitted that she had no knowledge of the file movements or approvals issued solely at the ministerial level.

Financial and Administrative Decisions Scrutinized

The commission further debated the procedure under which CM cleared the Medigadda barrage construction estimated to cost Rs. 2,591 crore along with the barrages at Annaram at Rs. 1,785 crore and Sundilla at Rs. 1,437 crore.

• Under questions about the decision of clearance of the DPR for the Medigadda presented before the CM on 18 January 2016 itself without cabinet, Sabharwal said she had no stake in the matter.
• On the larger financial issues associated with the Kaleshwaram project, she said she could not remember whether any such discussions or discrepancies were reflected in related documents.

Somesh Kumar's Testimony: Lack of Clear Answers

Somesh Kumar was the Secretary of the Irrigation Department for a short period and CS later. He had very little to offer during the inquiry.

• When asked about the operational schedule of the Medigadda Barrage, Kumar denied being at the site when it was inaugurated. He spoke about flood trends generally.
• The panel charged Kumar with giving vague responses, most particularly on a Jivo on August 6, 2019 that authorized Rs. 400 crores for the additional construction works. Kumar said that he signed the file, but could not recall anything further.

Transparency and Oversight Issues

When asked if he expressed dissent over any files or decisions as CS, Kumar stated that he highlighted shortcomings whenever required but encountered no major concerns during his tenure. He also denied having any substantial involvement in financial evaluations or decisions tied to the barrages, attributing such responsibilities to the Finance Department.

Justice Ghosh criticized the response of both the officials to the queries and indicated that even they could not recall or remember the main decisions about the project and that transparency, oversight, and accountability need to be ensured in handling a project as big as Kaleshwaram.