Revanth Reddy Accuses Harish Rao of Misleading Public on Kaleshwaram Project, Cites Massive Irregularities

Hyderabad, Aug 2025 : The Telangana Assembly on Sunday witnessed heated exchanges during the debate on the Justice P.C. Ghosh Commission’s report on the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP). Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy leveled serious allegations against BRS MLA T. Harish Rao, accusing him of twisting facts and misleading the public regarding the project.

Revanth Reddy claimed that both former Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao and Harish Rao bore direct responsibility for the massive cost escalation of the project. He alleged that loans taken for KLIP had been misused and irregularities occurred in shifting project sites during construction.

Design and Financial Irregularities

Citing the commission’s findings, the Chief Minister said the report highlighted serious flaws in both design and financial management. He accused Harish Rao of presenting only selective information to create a false impression of success.

Revanth recalled that on October 24, 2014, then Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharati had confirmed that the Pranahita-Chevvela project had sufficient water availability and hydrology permissions. “Despite this assurance, the project site was shifted later, leading to an artificial increase in cost,” he said. According to him, these changes inflated expenses by thousands of crores of rupees, pushing Telangana into financial distress.

He also questioned the BRS’ repeated claim that KLIP was the “world’s largest lift irrigation project,” countering that the reality was “one of massive irregularities and mismanagement.”

Transparency and Accountability

Revanth Reddy told the House that his government had placed the commission’s report before the Assembly to present facts transparently to both farmers and the public. “The aim is to ensure people know the truth. We urge the opposition to study the report and help spread awareness,” he said.

He further stated that the government would examine the report in detail and consider action against those found responsible for mismanagement and financial irregularities.

Opposition Pushback

Defending the BRS, Harish Rao dismissed the allegations as politically motivated. He maintained that the primary goal of KLIP was to ensure irrigation water for farmers and denied any wrongdoing. “The Congress government is trying to mislead farmers with baseless charges,” he countered.

The debate sparked multiple uproars in the Assembly, with sharp exchanges between ruling Congress and opposition BRS legislators.

Way Forward

Despite the ruckus, Revanth Reddy reaffirmed his government’s commitment to accountability. “We are determined to reveal the true status of the Kaleshwaram project and will not hesitate to act against those responsible for damaging the state’s financial health,” he concluded.

The KLIP controversy is now set to remain a major political flashpoint in Telangana, with both the ruling Congress and the opposition BRS trading accusations over one of the state’s most ambitious irrigation ventures.