The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has demanded a judicial probe into SLBC (Srisailam Left Bank Canal) tunnel work, the re-engagement of the original contract agency and enhancing the project cost by the Congress government after it came to power.
Addressing a press conference here on Friday, former MLA and party vice president N.V.S.S. Prabhakar accused two Cabinet Ministers belonging to the district of pushing the project after a gap of eight years through the same agency despite ‘experts’ advocating caution in view of the delicate terrain.
Even when the tunnel was proposed by the erstwhile Dr. YS Rajasekhar Reddy government two decades ago, apprehensions were expressed about the feasibility and dangers to the tunnel due to the extensive drilling by the boring machines.
“But the then government went ahead after promising to appoint an experts committee to look into the safety aspect. Two tunnel boring machines have broken down inside. Still the current government insisted on continuing the work,” he charged.
Demand for sub-contracts has been one of the reasons for the contract agency leaving the work, claimed the BJP leader and accused both the Cabinet Ministers of playing with the lives of the people of the district for their own personal interests.
“What had happened in Kaleshwaram project is happening here also. When so many tunnels are being dug across the country for highways and rail works without any issue, the mishap has occurred here because it is not the ideal spot for such tunnel boring,” he maintained.
Mr. Prabhakar also wanted a full fledged investigation into the recent ‘political murders’, including the death of a businessperson close to the BRS leaders and also lawyers/social activists who had complained against them.
Published – February 28, 2025 07:52 pm IST