more-in Joining the issue of corruption in the execution of irrigation projects with the Congress, Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) has asked whether it is ready for an open debate on it. “I am game for the open debate on corruption in the execution of irrigation projects,” TRS leader and minister in caretaker government T. Harish Rao said here on Tuesday. Reacting to Congress leader S. Jaipal Reddy’s allegations of corruption in irrigation projects, he said it was TRS that had done away with the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) system in irrigation projects. He pointed out that Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) reports had faulted the then Congress Government on the misuse (corruption) of funds in irrigation projects. The TRS leader said Congress government had laid foundation stones at four places for Pranahita-Chevella project in 2009 and tenders were called for 28 packages. However, except for excavating canals, at some places there was no progress, whatsoever in case of head works. Not a single clearance was secured till 2014, he said. Being a Union minister for 10 years Mr. Jaipal Reddy did nothing for Mahabubnagar district but it was the TRS government that had given water for irrigation to 20 lakh acres under different sources. It was Congress that had made irrigation project a goldmine for its leaders who had received huge kickbacks from the contractors, the TRS leader alleged.

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