Rahul Gandhi, a prominent Congress leader, made a visit to the Medigadda barrage of the Kaleswaram project in Telangana on Thursday. The Kaleswaram project is recognized as the world’s largest multi-stage lift irrigation project. During his inspection, Gandhi observed the presence of cracks in the barrage’s pillars.

Expressing his concerns about the “damage,” Gandhi asserted that these cracks had emerged due to subpar construction practices. He took to “X” (formerly Twitter) to share his thoughts, stating, “The Kaleshwaram Project is nothing but the KCR Family ATM. I visited the Medigadda barrage, which is a component of the corruption-tainted Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme in Telangana.”

Gandhi emphasized, “Multiple pillars have developed cracks due to substandard construction, and there are reports suggesting that these pillars are sinking.” He further accused Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao and his family of exploiting the Kaleshwaram project as their “personal ATM” to the detriment of the people of Telangana.

Accompanying Gandhi on this visit were A. Revanth Reddy, the state Congress president, and other associates.

Gandhi had previously raised concerns about corruption in the Kaleswaram project during his election campaigns in Telangana. He had even presented a symbolic ‘Kaleswaram ATM’ created by his party to illustrate his point to the public.

Notably, a team of officials from the dam safety authority recently conducted an inspection of the Medigadda barrage in response to the reported “damage.”

The primary goal of the Kaleswaram project, inaugurated in 2019, is to divert 195 thousand million cubic feet (TMC) of water from the Godavari River to the underdeveloped areas of Telangana. The project aims to channel this water to the Sripada Rao Yellampally project and create an additional ayacut (cultivated area) spanning approximately 18.25 lakh acres in Adilabad, Karimnagar, and other districts. Additionally, it is intended to provide 40 TMC of drinking water to various towns and cities in the state.

The overall cost of the project, including the construction of three barrages at Medigadda, Annaram, and Sundilla, is estimated to be around Rs 80,000 crore.

During a political rally on Monday, Kotha Prabhakar Reddy, a Member of Parliament representing Telangana and a candidate for the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) party in the Dubbak Assembly segment, fell victim to a stabbing attack by an unidentified assailant.

The 57-year-old political leader was targeted while he was actively engaged in an election campaign in Surampalli village within the Dubbak segment. Fortunately, his injuries were minor, thanks to the swift response of BRS activists who were present and managed to apprehend the assailant.

Mr. Reddy initially received medical attention at Gajwel Hospital before being transferred to a private facility in Hyderabad for further treatment.

The perpetrator, identified as Raju, an individual who claimed to be a YouTube ‘journalist’ hailing from Karimnagar, conveyed to the authorities that he had requested the MP’s support in becoming a beneficiary of the Telangana Dalit Bandhu Scheme. Reportedly, he was dissatisfied with the MP’s response, which led to the violent incident.

Raju took advantage of a handshake opportunity with the MP to execute the stabbing, targeting Reddy in the stomach with a concealed knife.

In response to the incident, Finance Minister T. Harish Rao visited Prabhakar Reddy during his hospitalization at Gajwel Hospital.

Furthermore, Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan expressed strong condemnation for the attack and conveyed her wishes for Prabhakar Reddy’s speedy recovery. She emphasized the importance of maintaining a peaceful and secure environment during the election period, asserting that such incidents are a threat to the democratic process. The Governor directed the Director General of Police to undertake a thorough investigation and ensure the safety of candidates and campaigners participating in the elections. Her message reiterated the fundamental principle that violence has no place in a democratic society.

In a concerning turn of events, a protest organized by villagers in Narayanpet district of Telangana took a violent and destructive turn on Sunday. The clash resulted in injuries to two police officers and the alleged torching of a police vehicle by the protesters.

This incident unfolded in Chittanoor village, located within the Marikal mandal of the district. Villagers had assembled in response to an incident a day earlier when they halted a tanker and staged a dharna, blocking the road.

The protestors’ primary grievance was their belief that the tanker was transporting pollutants discharged by an ethanol plant situated near their village. According to the villagers, the plant had been recklessly disposing of waste in their vicinity, leading to significant environmental pollution.

In an attempt to address these concerns, district authorities had assured the villagers that an official team would investigate the issue and undertake a thorough verification process.

However, tensions escalated during negotiations between revenue and police officials and the representatives of the protesters. Several individuals within the protest group began pelting stones at the officials, resulting in heightened anxiety in the area. As a result, some protesters reportedly set a police vehicle on fire and damaged another. Subsequently, the police were compelled to employ baton charges in their efforts to disperse the agitated villagers.

In response to the situation, a senior police official stated, “Since the protesters turned violent, we have taken action to bring the situation under control. One Circle Inspector and a Sub-Inspector sustained injuries due to stone pelting. However, the situation has now calmed down.”

Details regarding potential injuries among the protesters remained unclear at the time of reporting.

Regarding arrests, the official mentioned that a case was being registered, and appropriate legal action would be initiated following an investigation. Additional police forces were deployed to maintain order, and ongoing inquiries into the matter were underway.

The villagers of Chittanoor have been engaging in protests against the ethanol factory for several months. Their primary allegations revolve around the company’s irresponsible disposal of pollutants in their locality, causing significant environmental harm. It is essential to note that these villagers had previously expressed opposition to the construction of the plant.