Only a ‘genie’ can construct Kaleshwaram project: Shabbir Ali

Leader of Opposition in Telangana State Legislative Council Mohammed Ali Shabbir on Sunday welcomed the statement of Irrigation Minister T. Harish Rao confessing that the TRS Government does not have a Detailed Project Report (DPR) of Kaleshwaram Project.

Speaking to media persons after paying tributes to the martyrs of Basheerbagh firing incident, Shabbir Ali said that the Irrigation Minister has finally confessed that his government was executing Rs. 83,000 Crore Kaleshwaram project without even having a DPR. “Detailed estimates are prepared when a government constructs a small road or room. But TRS Government has initiated the tender process for works worth over Rs. 1,50,000 Crore without any DPRs. This certainly qualifies to become the eighth wonder of the world,” he said.

Further, Shabbir Ali said when the TRS Government could not prepare a Detailed Project Report on paper in 25 months, one can image the fate of the project that it plans to construct on ground. “Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao will need Alladin’s genie to construct Kaleshwaram and other projects in the next two-three years,” he said. Commenting on other aspects of irrigation projects raised by Harish Rao in his PPT before select media persons on Saturday, Shabbir Ali said that the Irrigation Minister’s plans were like debating the delivery of a baby boy or girl even before performing the marriage.

Earlier, accompanied with senior Congress leaders including TPCC Vice-President Mallu Ravi, ex-PCC President Ponnala Lakshamaiah and heads of various frontal organisations, Shabbir Ali paid rich tributes to those who were killed while protesting against the power tariff hike by the then Telugu Desam Party Government in 2000. Speaking on the occasion, Shabbir Ali alleged that the TRS Government was following the footsteps of TDP in suppressing the people’s agitation using force. He said the TRS Government resorted to brutal police lathicharge when farmers in Chengunta near Narsingi of Medak district protested demanding quality power supply.

“The manner in which TRS Govt suppressed farmers’ agitation against forcible land acquisition for Mallanna Sagar, reminded people about police excesses which TDP resorted to 16 years ago,” he said. However, he predicted that the TRS would meet the same fate as of TDP in Telangana. He strongly condemned the Chief Minister for threatening the opposition leaders for opposing his anti-people policies. (INN)