Chief Minister Revanth Reddy described the collapse of the Kaleshwaram Project as a “model study in failure.”
The CM was speaking during a function held at the Jala Soudha on Thursday during which he handed over appointment orders to newly recruited Assistant Executive Engineers (AEEs) of the Irrigation Department.
He pointed out that despite spending Rs 1 lakh crore on the lift irrigation scheme, the project failed to irrigate even one lakh acres and called for accountability from both officials and politicians.
He demanded transparency to find out who was responsible for the failure, whether it was officials or the politicians who controlled them. He expressed concern over the internal conflicts between engineers at various levels, stating that EEs and SEs were pointing fingers at each other.
The Chief Minister also criticised the BRS government for the collapse and urged the new engineers not to repeat the mistakes of their predecessors.
The CM recommended that officials responsible for the failure, especially those appointed based on recommendations, should be transferred to distant places as punishment. He said that the focus should be on performance and fieldwork rather than on securing favoured postings.
He also reiterated the importance of field experience in ensuring the success of projects, drawing on the legacy of renowned engineer Mokshagundam Vishveshwariah.
He said that such situations would not have arisen if the wrong decisions taken by politicians were not implemented.
“The Kaleshwaram project is not providing irrigation even for one lakh acres after spending Rs 1 lakh crore on the scheme. Rs 2 lakh crore was spent on projects and works are still pending. It should not be repeated in future,” Revanth said.
Don’t learn from Kaleshwaram engineers, says Venkat
Roads, Buildings and Cinematography Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy advised newly appointed engineers not to get inspired by those involved in the Kaleshwaram Project but to follow the path of legendary engineers like Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya.
Speaking at the five-day orientation programme held at the National Academy of Construction (NAC) in Madhapur, on Thursday, Venkat told the 156 engineers of the Roads and Buildings (R&B) Department selected by the TSPSC that he was concerned about the shortage of engineers in the last decade.
The state, as well as the R&B department, suffered due to lack of engineers which left many works unsupervised.
“In some cases, there was only one engineer for 10 mandals. To address this, 1540 Assistant Executive Engineers were recruited through the TSPSC, of which 156 have been allotted to the R&B Department,” Venkat said, emphasising the significance of the orientation programme before the engineers took charge.
He stressed that engineers have to play a vital role in Telangana’s rebuilding efforts.
“The selfish acts of some engineers and some politicians have tarnished the reputation of the engineering fraternity. I request all of you to follow the examples set by great engineers like Visvesvaraya and Nawab Ali Nawaz Jung Bahadur and not those responsible for substandard projects like Kaleshwaram,” Venkat said.
He narrated an incident involving Visvesvaraya when he stopped a train after sensing a problem with the tracks, which were later found to be broken. This, he said, demonstrated the dedication and meticulousness engineers should have.
“If you do your duties with the same care you will earn respect, and the state will gain from your work,” he said.
He also highlighted projects like the Super Game Changer RRR, TIMS hospital buildings, and the administrative buildings being built in districts.
“The work you do is not merely the construction of a road, bridge, or building; it serves the needs of millions. I think that if you view your work as a responsibility to the people, you will deliver quality projects,” he said.
Venkat took a dig at the BRS government, blaming them for leaving the state with a debt of Rs 7 lakh crore and a shortage of engineers to oversee critical projects. “Although they left us in such a state, we are now strengthening the R&B department with new recruitments,” he said.
In his concluding remarks, Venkat assured the engineers of his full support. “I am available to the public 24/7. If you face any problems, let me know, and I will resolve them immediately. Let us work as one family to develop our state. We are committed to the rebuilding of Telangana after a decade of destructive policies,” he said.
