As expected, the Andhra Pradesh police have confirmed the conspiracy theory behind the collision of three heavy boats with the gates of Prakasam Barrage last week, which caused damage to the counterweights of the gates and partially to the barrage pillar.
The investigating authorities reportedly submitted their report to Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Monday, which was later confirmed by State Irrigation Minister Nimmala Ramanaidu.
Ramanaidu stated that the investigating officers suspected a conspiracy behind the boats’ collision with the barrage. He revealed that all three boats belonged to a single owner, associated with the YSRCP.
"Investigations have shown that the three boats were not anchored but loosely tied with plastic ropes. Each boat, weighing 40-50 tonnes, was swept away by the Krishna River's current and collided with the barrage at gates 67, 69, and 70, damaging their counterweights," he said.
He added that, fortunately, there was no significant damage to the main barrage or the gates.
"The boats belong to Ushadri Rammohan, a close associate of former YSRCP MP from Bapatla, Nandigam Suresh, and YSRCP leader Talasila Raghuram," the minister explained.
The minister questioned how the boats, which were supposed to be anchored at Uddandarayunipalem village, had been moved to the other side before the Krishna floods began.
"How can someone be so careless with boats that cost Rs 1.5 crore each?" he asked.
On Saturday, the Vijayawada One Town police registered a case following a complaint by Water Resources Department (WRD) officials, suspecting possible sabotage behind the damage caused to the counterweight of Gate No. 69 of Prakasam Barrage.
It was earlier reported that the counterweight of Gate No. 69 broke when four boats, from an unknown location upstream of Krishna, drifted toward the barrage and collided with it on the night of September 1.
Irrigation Department Executive Engineer Krishna Rao filed the complaint with the One Town police, expressing suspicion of possible sabotage, and requested an investigation into the boat owners.
In his complaint, he mentioned that no one had claimed ownership of the boats, raising further suspicion of sabotage.
Three special teams have been formed to identify the boat owners, and it is learned that the NTR district police have now identified them.
