Hyderabad, Oct 24 (Maxim News): Telangana Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy has accused the previous BRS government of building the Kaleshwaram project out of greed for commissions. He alleged that the project’s redesign increased costs without delivering the promised irrigation benefits.
Uttam criticised the BRS leadership on Saturday, October 24, accusing it of repeatedly making misleading statements about Kaleshwaram. He also alleged that the previous government had damaged Telangana’s irrigation system through poor project planning and execution.
The minister claimed that the government deliberately shifted the Pranahita-Chevella project to Medigadda. He said the estimated project cost increased from ₹37,000 crore to ₹1.5 lakh crore.
Uttam also referred to the collapse of a section of the Medigadda barrage during the BRS regime. He questioned the irrigation benefits delivered by projects built at substantial public expense.
Uttam Criticises BRS Over Irrigation Projects
The minister also targeted the previous government over the Sitarama project. He alleged that its estimated cost rose from ₹2,000 crore to ₹20,000 crore under the redesign.
Uttam questioned whether the project had delivered irrigation water to even one acre despite the increased expenditure. He further argued that completing Jurala, Devadula, Palamuru-Rangareddy and the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) could have improved Telangana’s preparedness for the effects of El Niño.
He accused former Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao and BRS leaders K. T. Rama Rao and T. Harish Rao of misleading the public over irrigation projects. He also used a reference to Nazi propagandist Joseph Goebbels to attack their statements.
The allegations come amid an ongoing political dispute over the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme and the condition of its Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla barrages.
The state government has been pursuing rehabilitation plans for the three barrages. In September, Uttam said restoration work was expected to begin after the required technical clearances, with completion targeted before the 2027 monsoon season.
The minister’s latest remarks add to the continuing political debate over the project’s cost, construction and irrigation performance. The claims regarding commissions and project expenditure remain allegations made by the minister.
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