Is the Telangana Irrigation department shielding corrupt officials?

Hyderabad: Grave irregularities surfaced in the execution of projects carried out by the office of the Chief Engineer (minor irrigation) back in 2010 and 2011. Many works were carried out with fake administrative sanction, a probe found.

As the corruption surfaced, the matter was entrusted to Vigilance and Enforcement Directorate for investigation. The anti-crime probing agency submitted a detailed report in January 2013, citing corruption has taken place in the execution of 103 works, that is fake sanction was allocated for the projects. The Enforcement Directorate pointed out that there is prima facie evidence of criminal misconduct available in this case and requested the government to entrust the matter to CID.

In 2015, the Telangana government that was new to governance ordered a departmental enquiry against six officials in Nalgonda. The state appointed a Chief Engineer and directed him to submit his report within two months. The CID simultaneously probed the case.

While CID was probing the case, the Telangana government issued another GO directing the Additional Director General of CID to halt the investigation, thus bringing it to a halt.

M Padmanabha Reddy, Secretary of Forum for Good Governance, said, “The irregularities took place about nine years back, and the Vigilance and Enforcement Department recommended the CID. The case was being probed by two agencies, but surprisingly the government kept its orders in abeyance. The case has been cold for four years without action.”

The Forum for Good Governance filed an RTI to know the status of the case. Interestingly, the Irrigation department responded, saying, “It is not feasible as connected files are under process. To furnish the requisite information as per rule 8(h) under the RTI Act, 2005 is not feasible at this junction.”