metro india news  I hyderabad

The Justice P.C. The Ghose-led Kaleshwaram Inquiry Commission continued its probe into the financial and technical irregularities surrounding the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project. On Friday, former minister and current BJP MP from Malkajgiri, Etala Rajender, appeared before the commission as the 113th witness. The inquiry took place at BRK Bhavan and lasted for nearly 40 minutes, during which Rajender was examined after taking oath in open court.

During the proceedings, Etala Rajender clarified that all financial decisions during his tenure as Finance Minister were made in strict accordance with Cabinet resolutions. He asserted that he had no personal or independent discretion in the release of project funds and that the Finance Department released funds only based on government directives. He emphasized that technical and engineering aspects of the project were not under his purview and were handled by relevant departments and expert committees.

The commission posed 19 questions covering various aspects of the project, including the construction of the Medigadda, Annaram, and Sundilla barrages, the role of the Kaleshwaram Corporation, and the approval process for the Detailed Project Report (DPR). In response, Rajender stated that the decision to construct the three barrages was taken by the Cabinet based on reports from expert and technical committees.

When asked about the formation of the Kaleshwaram Corporation, Rajender explained it was established to mobilize funds and facilitate loan repayments. However, he clarified that fund collection through the corporation was not fully realized. He further noted that off-budget funding mechanisms were utilized, and fund disbursal was carried out through the corporation, not the Finance Department.

On queries about alleged financial mismanagement or lack of fiscal discipline, Rajender reiterated that such matters fall under the Irrigation Department and not Finance. He submitted supporting documents to the commission to back his statements and reiterated that all procedures were followed in line with established government norms

During the questioning, Etala Rajender provided key insights into the decision-making process behind the redesign of the Kaleshwaram Project. He revealed that the redesign was initiated following objections from the Maharashtra government regarding the Tummaidhatti barrage. In response, the then Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao formed a sub-committee comprising himself, Harish Rao (as Chairman), and Tummala Nageswara Rao.

The redesign was based on recommendations from multiple expert and technical committees, and the sub-committee formally signed off on the changes before the revised plans were approved by the Cabinet. Rajender reiterated that all such decisions were made collectively, following due consultation and technical validation.

When questioned about the release of Rs. 597.45 lakh to the private agency WAPCOS for the DPR preparation, Rajender stated he had no knowledge of the specific financial transaction, further underscoring his limited involvement in operational expenditures. He also confirmed that all DPR-related approvals were processed through the Cabinet.

Responding to concerns about the viability of the barrage locations, Rajender asserted that such decisions were based purely on technical feasibility studies conducted by relevant departments, and political or individual interference was never a factor. He maintained that his role, both as a minister and member of the sub-committee, was confined to policy-level decisions grounded in expert recommendations.