The Kerala State Human Rights Commission (KSHRC) has directed the Home department Secretary to examine the plea of Rajesh, a life convict lodged in Cheemeni Open Jail for over 15 years, for premature release, if found eligible.

The KSHRC issued the directive after reviewing the petition filed by Rajesh, a native of Kollengode, Palakkad. The petitioner, convicted in Sessions Case No. 97 by the Palakkad District Sessions Court, pointed out that several other convicts in similar cases were released after serving 14 years.

Responding to the Commission, the Superintendent of Cheemeni Open Jail informed that Rajesh’s name was recommended for early release in the first Jail Advisory Committee meeting of 2024, and the matter is presently under government consideration.

BRS leader S. Niranjan Reddy.

HYDERABAD

The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) has criticised the State government for fixing the December 2027 deadline to complete the Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme (PRLIS), as except for some work left in Uddandapur the remaining four pump-houses, reservoirs, tunnels, surge pools and sub-stations were already completed during the BRS rule.

Instead of assuring the people of Palamuru (combined Mahabubnagar district) that the government would complete the project at the earliest — since 90% of the works including land acquisition except distributaries were completed before the Congress government assumed power in December 2023 — not a spade of work was completed during the last 18 months, former minister and BRS leader S. Niranjan Reddy said, addressing a press conference here on Friday.

He explained that wet run of the Narlapur pump-house and dry run of three other pump-houses was completed during the BRS rule and only 8 km canal work was pending in Package-3, contractor of which as per the online information was a ruling party leader of Andhra Pradesh and his son was a sitting MLA. Perhaps, the contractor could be facing pressure from Andhra leaders not to complete the work, the BRS leader felt.

Alleging that the Congress government had prepared plans to supplement water to Dindi from Yedula reservoir with a cost of ₹1,800 crore and finalised tenders for works valuing ₹1,300 crore, against ₹80-₹100 crore required for taking water from Vattem reservoir with gravity flow, Mr. Niranjan Reddy demanded that the government appoint an experts’ committee to weigh the two options.

He sought to know why the government was acting hastily in case of Dindi works by keeping aside the PRLIS works and why the Minister for Irrigation was reviewing the status of the two projects. He also faulted the Congress government for taking up Kodangal Lift Irrigation Scheme by cancelling tenders for giving water with gravity flow to Narayanpet and Kodangal areas from PRLIS

On KWDT-II Award

The BRS leader cautioned the State government on the efforts of the Centre to finalise the Brijesh Kumar Tribunal orders on the river water sharing for the upper riparian States of Karnataka and Maharashtra on May 7 by convening a meeting with the riparian States. The BRS had objected to the Centre’s efforts as it would cause permanent loss to Telangana and would allow Karnataka increase the height of Almatti dam to store 160 tmcft of water from the present 129 tmcft.

Increase of Almatti dam height would make water flow to downstream areas in the lean years and the provision of 10 tmcft water release from the reservoirs was not practical, he said and suggested the State government to strongly oppose the move and insist upon the interests of Telangana.

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