Hyderabad: Congress has alleged that Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) chief and caretaker chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has "indulged in manipulation" in awarding contracts for construction of various projects, mostly irrigation. This has resulted in only two engineering firms getting contract works worth Rs 77,000 crore. TRS has refuted the allegations.

Congress spokesperson S Jaipal Reddy alleged that one engineering company alone bagged contracts worth Rs 60,000 crore for irrigation and drinking water projects while another company got contracts of Rs 17,000 crore in irrigation sector.

"These two companies together got contract works worth Rs 77,000 crore in a short period of four years," the former union minister told reporters here.

"It was made possible because KCR (as Rao is popularly known as) manipulated, orchestrated the award of contracts to them (the two companies). In normal process, it is not possible," Reddy said.

He said if congress comes to power (wins the coming assembly polls in the state), one of its first tasks would be to launch a thorough inquiry into these contracts and to see that the guilty are punished.

"We will also see that the companies involved are also- punished."

Reddy also alleged that there was over estimation of 30 per cent in cost of different projects and other contractors were frightened away and the whole thing (tender process) was rigged.

Asked if he has any documents to prove his allegations, Reddy said: "I have been a Parliamentarian and I don't make allegations in the air.

I want only one favour from KCR...let him question the facts and figures. I throw a frontal challenge to the TRS government. I challenge them to reject the figures."

Reacting to Reddy's allegations of manipulation in awarding contracts, TRS MP B Vinod Kumar said, "not at all."

Most of the contracts (for irrigation projec-ts) were awarded in the Congress-ruled erstwhile state of Andhra Pradesh under the then (late) Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, he alleged.

"During Rajasekhara Reddy's government these two- contractors whom he (Jaipal Reddy) named were only contractors who were awarded the contracts.