KTR accuses govt of favoring minister firm in tenders

Metro India News | Hyderabad : BRS Working President K.T. Rama Rao (KTR) has accused the Congress government in Telangana of manipulating the tender process for the Kodangal Lift Irrigation Scheme to benefit a company allegedly associated with Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy. Taking to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, KTR criticized the state government's handling of the project tenders and alleged that the process had been structured to favor the minister's company.

KTR alleged that when the Revanth Reddy-led government invited tenders for the Kodangal Lift Irrigation Scheme, a company reportedly belonging to Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy also participated in the bidding process. He claimed that the other participating companies were merely nominal entities existing on paper and that the process ultimately left only one company in contention, paving the way for it to secure the contract.

The BRS leader also raised concerns over the sharp escalation in the project's estimated cost. According to KTR, the project, which was initially estimated at approximately Rs. 1,450 crore in 2014, has now reached an estimated cost of Rs. 6,825 crore, representing an increase of nearly five times. He questioned the substantial increase in expenditure, pointing out that despite the huge sums being allocated to the project, not even a single drop of water had reportedly been delivered through it so far.

Referring to the prevailing drinking water situation in Telangana, the BRS Working President said people in several areas were being forced to stand in queues for water tankers, while Congress leaders were allegedly benefiting from irrigation projects at the expense of public resources.

He accused the government of giving priority to increasing project estimates and securing contractual benefits rather than addressing people's essential needs, including access to drinking and irrigation water.