Hyderabad, September 1, 2025 –
Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) Working President K. T. Rama Rao (KTR) has launched a sharp attack on the Telangana government, accusing it of deliberately trying to malign former Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) and the BRS party over the ongoing Kaleshwaram Project controversy.
Speaking to the media, KTR said the ruling Congress government had completely failed in handling the issue. He alleged that instead of fixing the problem, the ministers were more focused on blaming BRS leadership.
“Today the government failed completely. Their ministers objected and interrupted, but Harish Rao ji gave a befitting reply to every allegation. He clarified that there was no mistake on our part. It was an accident, and the project could have been made fully functional again if they had acted responsibly. But their only motive is to defame KCR and BRS,” KTR said.
Background of the Kaleshwaram Project Controversy
The Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP), considered one of the largest multi-stage lift irrigation projects in the world, was designed to provide irrigation water to 37 lakh acres, drinking water to several districts, and supply water to Hyderabad.
However, the project came under heavy criticism after structural damages were detected in the Medigadda Barrage in 2023. Following this, allegations of corruption, poor design, and misuse of public money surfaced, leading to the formation of a Commission of Inquiry headed by Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose. The Commission submitted its report in July 2025, highlighting serious irregularities.
The Telangana cabinet has since approved the report and ordered a CBI probe into the matter, sparking a heated political battle between the ruling Congress and BRS.
KTR’s Stand
Defending the project, KTR claimed that the BRS government had successfully completed the project within record time, and the benefits were visible for farmers and industries. He added that accidents in massive infrastructure projects were not uncommon and could be rectified with technical repairs.
“Instead of repairing and restoring it, the Congress government is playing blame games. Their priority is not farmers but politics. We will fight this battle both legally and politically,” KTR asserted.
Political Fallout
The issue has become the biggest political flashpoint in Telangana since the Congress came to power in 2023. While the ruling government accuses BRS of engineering the “biggest irrigation scam in the country,” BRS leaders maintain that the project is a victim of political vendetta.
Analysts believe that the Kaleshwaram debate will remain central in the run-up to the next elections, as it directly impacts farmers, rural communities, and the state’s financial credibility.