Telangana Chief Minister Slams Central Government Over Delayed Kaleshwaram Corruption Probe
In a sharp escalation of political tensions, Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has publicly accused the Central Government of maintaining a deliberate silence regarding a proposed Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the controversial Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme (KLIS). The Chief Minister revealed that the state government submitted its formal request for a probe nine months ago and has since sent multiple reminders, all of which have allegedly been met with inaction from New Delhi.
"KLIS as ATM for BRS": A Political Allegation Left Unanswered
Revanth Reddy pointedly referenced previous statements made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah during their visits to Telangana, where they famously labeled the Kaleshwaram project as an "ATM" for the previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government. The Chief Minister questioned why these same leaders are now silent when the Congress-led state administration is actively seeking an investigation into the very irregularities they once highlighted.
He further recalled Union Minister Kishan Reddy's bold claim that the Centre would order a CBI inquiry and arrest former Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) and former minister Harish Rao within 48 hours—a move the state government lacks the authority to execute independently.
BRS Leaders' Delhi Visit Draws Scrutiny and Skepticism
The political drama intensified as Revanth Reddy called attention to the sudden trip to Delhi undertaken by BRS leaders Harish Rao, B. Vinod Kumar, and Vaddiraju Ravichandra on Monday. He alleged their mission was to ensure the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), through its ideological mentor the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), does not initiate a CBI probe into Kaleshwaram.
"The BRS claims its leaders went to Delhi to consult lawyers on the Kaleshwaram case. The Telangana High Court has already completed arguments and reserved its order, and is expected to deliver its judgement on April 22. At this juncture, what is there to discuss with lawyers in the Supreme Court?" the Chief Minister questioned during a press conference, challenging the opposition party to explain the urgency of their travel to the national capital.
Revanth Reddy issued a stern warning, stating that the state government "would not remain silent if the BRS was being shielded by the BJP-led Centre."
On-Site Inspection and a Vow of Accountability
Earlier on Monday, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, accompanied by Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy, conducted a comprehensive inspection of the three critical barrages under the Kaleshwaram project: Medigadda, Annaram, and Sundilla. The visit included a high-level meeting with irrigation officials and National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) Chairman Anil Jain to assess the structural and operational status of the infrastructure.
During the review, the Chief Minister made a firm commitment: the government would not spare any individual found responsible for financial or procedural irregularities in the massive irrigation scheme. Simultaneously, he assured that the state administration is fully dedicated to repairing and rehabilitating the three barrages to ensure uninterrupted water supply for the agricultural community.
Historical Context and Allegations of Cost Escalation
Revanth Reddy provided a historical perspective, reminding the public that the original Pranahitha–Chevella project was conceived by the Congress government in 2009. This plan aimed to irrigate 16.4 lakh acres across multiple districts using Godavari river waters, with an estimated cost of ₹38,500 crore. Approximately ₹11,700 crore had already been invested in this project during the periods of both undivided Andhra Pradesh and the newly formed Telangana.
The Chief Minister leveled serious allegations against the previous BRS regime, claiming that after assuming power, KCR not only renamed the project from Pranahitha to Kaleshwaram but also shifted its primary location from Thummidihatti to Medigadda. Most critically, he accused the BRS government of inflating the project estimate from ₹38,500 crore to an astonishing ₹1 lakh crore, implying this was done to facilitate corrupt commissions.
Revanth Reddy concluded with a damning assessment of the project's output, stating that despite expending nearly ₹1 lakh crore out of a total projected cost of ₹1.50 lakh crore, the BRS administration "failed to provide water even to one lakh acres," highlighting a severe gap between investment and tangible agricultural benefit for the state's farmers.
