Kavitha alleges Rs 1,148 Cr GHMC contract scam, targets Revanth Reddy govt
HYDERABAD: Telangana Jagruthi President Kalvakuntla Kavitha accused Chief Minister Revanth Reddy of enabling corruption within the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC). She alleged that the Chief Minister’s associates receive contracts worth several crores through the nomination method, bypassing competitive bidding.
Speaking at the Telangana Jagruthi office in Banjara Hills, Kavitha stated that since the Congress government took office, officials have awarded contracts totaling approximately Rs 1,148 crore through nominations. She described this as a clear violation of the Telangana State Financial Code.
Kavitha noted that regulations require competitive tenders for projects exceeding Rs 5 lakh. However, she alleged that officials award contracts worth crores without tenders. She referenced a 2023 committee that explicitly stated officials should not award contracts without tenders.
Comparing administrations, she said, “While the previous BRS government awarded works worth Rs 480 crore through the nomination method, the Revanth Reddy government has increased this practice, awarding Rs 1,148 crore in contracts to its associates. Large-scale corruption has occurred in this process.”
She called for the immediate cancellation of all nomination-based contracts and insisted that officials award all projects in the GHMC and HMDA only through a transparent, competitive tendering process. Kavitha criticized the department, stating that corruption is so widespread that GHMC could be interpreted as the Gang of Corrupt Contractors.
Turning to land dealings, she further alleged that officials sold lands valued at Rs 35,000 crore within the HMDA limits but did not allocate any funds for Hyderabad’s development. She claimed the Chief Minister is promoting the Future City initiative to advance corrupt practices.
Expanding on extortion claims, Kavitha also alleged that the administration intimidates real estate developers under the pretext of HYDRAA and illegally collects Rs 150 per square foot from them. “We possess all the necessary evidence regarding these activities,” she said. “If this blackmail and extortion are not stopped immediately, we will file a formal complaint with the Enforcement Directorate (ED).”
Regarding the Kaleshwaram project, Kavitha stated that the BRS welcomes the government’s decision to undertake repairs but accused the administration of making this move solely to receive commissions. Criticizing the administration’s motives, she said, “This government deliberately allowed 8.5 lakh acres of land to go dry to claim that the Kaleshwaram project had failed. Officials are carrying out the repairs only to earn commissions, not out of genuine concern for farmers.”
She urged the government to conduct the repairs with sincerity and integrity and to implement measures that ensure the project’s benefits reach the farming community.
