Hyderabad: BJP MP Eatala Rajendar has called for a CBI investigation into alleged irregularities in the Kaleshwaram project, asserting that corruption and infrastructure development must be treated as separate issues.
Responding to recent remarks by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, Eatala said the Kaleshwaram project and its components including Sundilla, Annaram and Medigadda were decisions approved by the then cabinet led by former CM K. Chandrashekar Rao. He said many of those ministers are now part of the current Congress government and can be questioned.
Eatala claimed irrigation projects had become political ATMs and urged the state government to first focus on repairing damaged structures in the Kaleshwaram system before politicising the issue. “There’s nothing wrong in building projects, the problem lies in misuse,” he said.
He stated he would send all documents related to the project to the Chief Minister and reiterated that cabinet approval was required for such undertakings. Eatala emphasized the need to investigate corruption without stalling essential irrigation infrastructure.
Citing his involvement in the Telangana movement, he said the demand was always for water, jobs, and financial resources. “Many projects were sanctioned during Congress rule but left incomplete,” he said, referring specifically to the Jalayagnam-era Pranahita-Chevella project.
He said the BJP is not against development, but opposes opaque contract allocations and called for swift completion of the judicial commission inquiry into project corruption.
