Hyderabad: Justice (retd) PC Ghose’s one-man commission, which probed lapses into Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme (KLIS), has criticised former chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and said that, being a political executive, he functioned as an administrative executive in implementing the policy of the govt.Recommending that the state govt take appropriate action against the KCR in accordance with law, the commission observed that it was ‘conclusively established’ that the then CM’s direct involvement and minute directions in the planning, construction and operation of the three barrages — Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla — were the root cause of irregularities and distress.”The then chief minister KCR took every decision upon himself. In all aspects of the construction of these barrages, beginning with conceptualising the Kaleshwaram project under the guise of re-engineering the Dr BR Ambedkar Pranahitha-Chevella Sujala Sravanthi Scheme, he personally intervened. This included entrusting consultancy services to WAPCOS on nomination, proceeding without its final Detailed Project Report (DPR), directing preparation and approval of estimates without cabinet sanction, ordering impound of water, and relaxing contract conditions to favour agencies unduly,” the Ghose commission said.The state govt has tabled the 650-page report in the assembly on Sunday. Major findings had already been made public earlier, and the state cabinet also accepted the Ghose commission’s report. The Congress govt constituted the commission in March 2024 to probe alleged irregularities in the construction of Kaleshwaram barrages — Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla. The report was submitted to the govt on July 31, 2025.Apart from KCR, the commission recommended action against former ministers T Harish Rao and Eatala Rajender, as well as against engineering officials associated with administration, quality control, operations and maintenance, designs, and the Kaleshwaram corporation.”The concerned personnel of the executive, responsible for irregularities and brazen breach of trust towards the state govt, must face the severest punishment in accordance with law. This should serve as a lesson and a deterrent to the executive to refrain from acting to the tune and yielding to the pressures of the political executive. Any lenience, even on humanitarian grounds, towards erring officials in the present case shall prove disastrous to the welfare of the state in the times to come,” the commission commented.Approvals without DPRThe commission noted that while KCR claimed during cross-examination that the locations of the three barrages had been identified by the central govt agency WAPCOS, the Central Water Commission (CWC) had observed there was no required water availability at Thummidihatti and only 282 tmcft water available at Medigadda. Despite this, the commission said administrative approvals were given in violation of business rules. “While WAPCO submitted its final DPR on March 27, 2016, the state govt had given administrative approvals for the three barrages on March 1, 2016,” the commission said.The BRS govt had shifted the barrage location from Thummidihatti to Medigadda after the Maharashtra govt opposed the proposed 152-metre Full Reservoir Level (FRL) at Thummidihatti. Justice Ghose observed that the technical committee meetings held in Feb 2015 and two more meetings explored engineering alternatives, and the inter-state board for joint irrigation projects was constituted. The last board meeting was held in Aug 2016. However, the board never finalised the height of Medigadda. The expert committee also did not recommend shifting the barrage to Medigadda from Thummidihatti.”This means, even before finalising the height of the Medigadda barrage, a construction contract was signed. This is how the decision to construct barrages at Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla was taken by the then state govt. The GOs (No 231, 232 and 233 on barrages) were not placed before the Cabinet for approval or ratification, and thereby there was a violation of the Business Rules of the govt. Both the minister for irrigation and the then CM shall also be held liable for violation of the Business Rules of the govt,” the report said.It also commented that the decision to shift the project to Medigadda, on the alleged ground of availability of water, is the decision of KCR. The decision was taken by suppressing the report of the expert committee under G.O.Rt.No.28. “Right from the beginning till the stage of inauguration of the barrages by impounding water at the peril of the health of the barrages was done with the instructions of the then CM KCR. The then minister for finance & planning Rajender, remained as a tacit perpetrator, and the then irrigation minister, T Harish Rao, allowed the violations,” the report said.Took decision before approvalsThe commission also highlighted discrepancies between official statements and the actual decision-making process. The Governor’s address to the assembly on March 10, 2016, claimed that inter-state issues on Godavari river sharing had been resolved, whereas the inter-state board meeting was held on August 23, 2016. During cross-examination, both KCR and Harish Rao claimed that cabinet approvals had been obtained for the construction of barrages and their estimates. However, the commission found several procedural lapses.”During his PowerPoint presentation on the Kaleshwaram project, KCR repeatedly said, “There is no Pranhahitha. There is no Chevella. Tummidihatti will be restricted to Adilabad only. From now on, we will call it the Kaleswaram Project in the name of God,” the report said.But, the commission said, administrative approvals had already been issued before this presentation. “The facts of preparation of DPR by WAPCOS and the fact of the grant of administrative approvals for construction of these three barrages are not found in the PowerPoint Presentation,” the report said.On the constitution of the cabinet sub-committee for reengineering of major irrigation projects, former finance minister Eatala Rajender, who is also member of the sub-committee, stated that administrative approvals for three barrages were given on March 1, 2016, while the sub-committee was constituted on March 15, 2016 and the first meeting was held on March 27, 2016 and two meetings later in April same year. “It was a fact that govt approval for the construction of three barrages was given based on a cabinet sub-committee report, as stated by Eatala Rajender, is patently wrong. Further, a finding has been recorded that the cabinet sub-committee had not recommended construction of barrages at Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla,” the panel said.On the claims of former irrigation minister Harish Rao, Justice Ghose said that engaging the services of WAPCOS for the preparation of DPR for the Kaleshwaram project on April 14, 2015, and approvals were given on March 1, 2016, and the govt files pertaining to these decisions were not placed before the cabinet, and there was no approval from the cabinet.”The mention of the Kaleshwaram project in the Governor’s address in the assembly cannot be said to have correctly projected the policy of the state govt on the project,” the commission said. Even the Governor’s address agenda and resolution to authorise the CM to finalise the governor’s address were taken after the approval for the construction of barrages. “Address by the Governor, the budget speech of the minister for Finance and the PPT by the then CM do not mitigate the fact of violation of Business Rules of the govt in not taking approval of the barrages construction,” the report said.