Congress Alleges KCR Took Bribe To Award Contract

Demanding that Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao order a CBI inquiry into the awarding of a drip irrigation contract worth Rs 49.89 crores to Netafim Company Private Limited, the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) alleged that a quid pro quo had taken place between the Chief Minister, Netafim and Agricultural University Vice-Chancellor Praveen Rao.

Speaking to the media at Gandhi Bhavan on Friday, Telangana Congress leaders D K Aruna, Konagala Mahesh and Shobha Reddy alleged that the Agricultural University new Vice-Chancellor Praveen Rao, who had earlier been employed with Netafim, had worked as a broker between the Chief Minister and the company.

They alleged that the Chief Minister awarded the Rs 49.89-crore drip irrigation works at Erravalli and Narsannapet villages to Netafim because it had installed a drip irrigation system in the Chief Minister's 63-acre farmhouse.

They claimed that the CM had first appointed Praveen Rao, who had worked as a technical advisor to Netafim, as a special officer to the Agricultural University, and now made the same person the Vice-Chancellor of the prestigious university, just because Praveen Rao was the person who introduced Netafim to him. They also expressed doubts on Praveen Rao's educational credentials.

As further indication of corruption in the entire episode, they said that the government had failed to upload GO No 149, which dealt with the installing of a drip irrigation system at Erravalli and Narsannapet villages at 100% subsidy, in the State government's website.

They also wondered how the finance department had given permission when the government assigned a Rs 49.89-crore work on a nomination basis without calling for tenders.

"It proves that the government indulged in irregularities," they alleged, and demanded that the government order a comprehensive inquiry into the episode.

They also said that the government, which used to say that it was against mobilization advances, had given a 25% mobilization advance to Netafim.

They asked the Chief Minister why he was showing special love towards Netafim.

Reiterating their demand that the government order a CBI inquiry into the episode, they asked the Chief Minister to stay away from his position till the probe was completed. They claimed to have all necessary evidence related to the "scam".

They also alleged that the government had indulged in corruption in the Telangana State Micro Irrigation Projects (TSMIP).

It may be recalled that the Chief Minister had adopted Erravalli and Narsannapet villages, and is installing drip irrigation systems in both of them on a 100% subsidy basis in 3,300 acres of land.