Vigilance Commission recommends disciplinary action against 33 officials in Medigadda Barrage case
Hyderabad: The Telangana Vigilance Commission has recommended that the Irrigation and Command Area Development (I&CAD) Department initiate criminal proceedings against senior engineers and the construction agency responsible for the Medigadda Barrage, a key component of the Kaleswaram Lift Irrigation Project.
A report submitted by the Director General, Vigilance and Enforcement (DG, V&E), Hyderabad, found serious lapses in the execution of the barrage, leading to the sinking of Block No. 7 and significant financial loss to the public exchequer. The Commission, chaired by M.G. Gopal, IAS (Retd.), advised the registration of criminal cases under IPC Sections 120(B), 336, 409, 418, 423, and 426, along with provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, the Dam Safety Act, 2021, and the Public Demands Recovery Act, 1984.
The Commission has identified 17 officers, including former Engineer-in-Chief Cheeti Muralidhar, and officials from the contracting agency, M/s L&T-PES (JV), for procedural violations and faulty construction. The report highlights improper execution of secant piles and deviations from the approved method statement, which led to piping action beneath the raft and formation of cavities.
In addition to recommending criminal proceedings, the Commission has asked the I&CAD Department to initiate major disciplinary action under Rule 20 of the Telangana Civil Services (Conduct, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1992, against 33 officials. This includes serving officers, retirees, and those due for retirement. Action against retired officials will be taken under Rule 54 of the Telangana Revised Pension Rules, 1980. Disciplinary proceedings have also been recommended against two Finance Department officials, District Works Accounts (DWA) and the Divisional Accounts Officer, over their role in approving payments related to the barrage.
The Commission directed the I&CAD Department to recover the costs of replacing the damaged block and to take action against the contractor for claiming completion certificates without meeting the terms of the supplemental agreements. The second supplemental agreement (RE-II) with the contractor is valued at ₹4,613 crore, with several works still incomplete. Officials have been instructed to ensure strict compliance with agreement conditions and verify contractual obligations more rigorously in future projects.
