The Kaleshwaram project in Telangana has become a source of political contention, with the current Revanth Reddy-led government clashing with the BRS party. A CBI investigation has been announced by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy concerning the project, citing its multi-state implications and involvement of various central and governmental bodies. This decision was made after a discussion in the Assembly regarding the judicial commission’s report on the project, which highlighted several issues requiring further scrutiny.
The Kaleshwaram project, initiated during the BRS government, is a multi-stage irrigation project on the Godavari River, located in Kaleshwaram, Bhupalpally district. It was inaugurated in 2016 with the aim of providing water for agriculture, drinking, and industrial purposes. Former Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) termed it as Telangana’s lifeline and one of the world’s largest lift irrigation schemes. Spanning the confluence of the Pranahita and Godavari rivers, the project relies on an extensive canal network exceeding 1,800 kilometers to deliver water. The BRS government envisioned this project to irrigate over 1.6 million acres of land across 13 districts and stabilize existing agricultural areas. The project aimed to store and distribute 240 TMC feet of Godavari River water, allocating it for irrigation, drinking water for Hyderabad, industrial and other uses, and village water supply.
The project has faced controversies from its inception. Initially planned at Tummadihatti, it was later shifted to Medigadda. Despite claims of water scarcity at the original site, the Central Water Commission (CWC) reported significant water availability there. Allegations include construction flaws, with barrages reportedly built on unstable foundations, causing the collapse of the Sundilla barrage and damages to the Annaram and Sundilla barrages.
The announcement of the CBI investigation follows a promise made by the Congress party during elections. After coming into power, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy established a judicial commission led by Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose. The commission’s 15-month investigation involved questioning over 110 witnesses, including former Chief Minister KCR and Minister T. Harish Rao. The government is now reviewing the commission’s report in the Assembly, seeking input on future actions, which led to the CBI probe decision.
The BRS maintains that the project received all necessary approvals, including from the Assembly. Chief Minister Reddy revealed that the government has spent approximately ₹49,835 crore on the Kaleshwaram project, with ₹29,956 crore in interest and ₹19,879 crore in principal payments. Furthermore, he mentioned the restructuring of over ₹26,000 crore in debt by the central government. Reddy accused the BRS government of securing high-interest loans and changing the barrage location from Tummadihatti to Medigadda to misappropriate public funds, despite contrary advice from retired engineers.
The judicial commission’s report, presented in the Assembly, stated that former Chief Minister KCR could be held accountable. The BRS staged a walkout, disputing the time allocated to present their views. The report indicated that the then irrigation minister made arbitrary decisions, and the finance minister displayed negligence, but the primary responsibility for the irregularities in the barrages rested with the former Chief Minister.