The Kaleshwaram project in Telangana is currently under scrutiny, with the Revanth Reddy government and the BRS party embroiled in a political dispute. The Chief Minister, A. Revanth Reddy, has declared a CBI investigation into the project following a discussion in the Assembly. The decision was made due to the project’s interstate nature and involvement of multiple central and governmental entities.
The Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP), situated on the Godavari River near Kaleshwaram in Bhupalpally district, was initiated during the BRS government’s term. Launched in 2016, the project’s objective was to provide water resources for agriculture, drinking water, and industrial purposes within Telangana. Former Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) lauded it as Telangana’s lifeline, highlighting its status as one of the largest lift irrigation projects globally. The project extends to the meeting point of the Pranahita and Godavari rivers, utilizing a network of canals that span over 1,800 kilometers. The BRS government’s vision for the project included irrigating more than 1.6 million acres of land across 13 Telangana districts and stabilizing existing agricultural lands. The intended distribution of water from the Godavari River comprised 240 TMC feet, with allocations for irrigation, drinking water for Hyderabad, industrial and other usages, and water supply for villages along the route.
Controversies have plagued the Kaleshwaram project since its inception. Initially proposed at Tummadihatti, the site was later relocated to Medigadda. The rationale provided was water scarcity, despite the Central Water Commission (CWC) indicating significant water availability at the original site. Allegations also include the construction of barrages on inadequate foundations, which allegedly contributed to the collapse of the Sundilla barrage and damage to the Annaram and Sundilla barrages.
The announcement of the CBI investigation stems from a pre-election promise by the Congress. Upon assuming power, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy established a judicial commission, headed by Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose. This commission conducted a 15-month investigation, interviewing over 110 witnesses, including former Chief Minister KCR and Minister T. Harish Rao. The government is currently deliberating on the commission’s report in the Assembly, gathering feedback on subsequent actions, which has resulted in the CBI probe. The BRS maintains that the project secured all necessary approvals and was also sanctioned by the Assembly. Chief Minister Reddy revealed that the government has expended approximately ₹49,835 crore on the Kaleshwaram project, with interest payments of ₹29,956 crore and principal payments of ₹19,879 crore. Moreover, he cited the restructuring of over ₹26,000 crore in debt through the central government. Reddy accused the BRS government of securing high-interest loans and altering the barrage location from Tummadihatti to Medigadda to allegedly misappropriate public funds, despite objections from retired engineers.
The judicial commission’s report, presented in the Assembly, indicated potential accountability for former Chief Minister KCR. The BRS staged a walkout, contending that they were denied adequate time to present their perspectives. The report underscored that the then-irrigation minister issued arbitrary directives, and the finance minister demonstrated negligence, with the primary responsibility for the barrages’ irregularities resting with the former Chief Minister.