CM Revanth Reddy vows to act tough on KLIP irregularities, rejects AIMIM charge of evading responsibility

HYDERABAD

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has made it clear that his government would take stringent action against those responsible for irregularities in the execution of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP).

After considering the opinions of the members of the Assembly on Sunday, “I am determined to take action against those responsible, which is why a one-man judicial commission headed by Justice P.C. Ghose was constituted,” he said.

Responding to the remarks made by AIMIM Floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi in the Assembly, during a heated argument as part of a short discussion on the report filed by the Ghose Commission, constituted to investigate alleged irregularities in KLIP, Mr. Reddy said that the government had tabled the report to seek suggestions from the members of the House, before taking a decision.

“We wanted to take ‘suggestions’ and not ‘decisions’,” he clarified, as Mr. Akbaruddin accused the government of shifting its responsibility to act on the pretext of taking opinions.

Dismissing the comments made by Mr. Akbaruddin, regarding submission of the reports of Vigilance and Enforcement, NDSA, CAG, and the expert committee, the Chief Minister said that all these reports had been submitted to the P.C. Ghose Commission for consideration.

“If the commission does not consider these reports, I cannot question it. But, we have submitted all the reports pertaining to the project,” he said.

Heated exchanges continued between the AIMIM Floor leader and the Chief Minister when the former questioned the use of the commission’s report, pointing out that it had not recommended any proper action against the ‘culprits’ except recovery of a few hundred crores from WAPCOS Limited.

Mr. Akbaruddin also wondered why the probe panel had not considered the reports of other agencies that had already inquired into the matter, and found fault with the Terms of Reference given to the Commission.

Responding to these charges, the CM asserted that people should not doubt his integrity, as he is committed to taking action against those who looted public money on the pretext of redesigning the project.