HC Stays Kaleshwaram Probe as RTC Strike Begins
Telangana’s political arena was charged with high-intensity drama , as judicial rulings and labor unrest reshaped the state’s immediate priorities. The day was marked by a significant legal victory for the opposition and a direct challenge to the ruling administration’s industrial policies.
In a major development, the Telangana High Court declared the findings of the Justice P.C. Ghose Commission on the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project “inoperative.” The court ruled that no further action should be taken based on the current report, citing a lack of adherence to legal norms during the investigation. Senior BRS leaders, including T. Harish Rao, welcomed the verdict as a triumph of truth over what they termed “political conspiracies” by the Congress government.
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy responded with a sharp counter-attack during a public meeting in Jayashankar Bhupalpally. He challenged BRS chief K. Chandrashekar Rao, vowing to “strip him of his Leader of Opposition status” through upcoming electoral contests. Reddy also criticized the Central Government for the nine-month delay in initiating a CBI probe into the Kaleshwaram project, despite the state’s formal request.
On the governance front, the Chief Minister directed the Industries Department to fast-track land acquisition for global firms. Reviewing MoUs from the Davos summit, he emphasized a three-tier priority system for land allotment to ensure “Telangana Rising” remains on track. He urged officials to create world-class facilities in the “Future City” to attract top-tier global investment.
However, the administration faced a domestic crisis as TSRTC workers officially began a statewide strike on April 22. Over 15,000 buses remained off the roads, affecting nearly 65 lakh daily commuters. The BJP, led by State President N. Ramchander Rao, threw its weight behind the workers, accusing the government of “reckless freebie politics” that led to the financial crippling of the transport corporation.
