Former Telangana CM KCR Appears Before Commission Probing Kaleshwaram Project Irregularities
Former Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) appeared before the Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose Commission of Inquiry on Wednesday. The commission is investigating alleged irregularities concerning the construction of barrages for the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project. KCR, president of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), was served notice to depose. Other former ministers associated with the project have also recently testified before the probe panel.
Unpacked:
The inquiries focus on alleged cost overruns, possible undue benefits to contractors, poor planning, and engineering lapses. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) and the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) have raised concerns over economic viability and structural damage to multiple barrages within the project.
The Kaleshwaram project is the world’s largest multi-stage lift irrigation scheme, intended to supply water for irrigation, industrial, and domestic use across northern Telangana, and is considered vital for the state’s agricultural and economic development.
The CAG report declared the project economically unviable, noting costs likely to exceed ₹1.47 lakh crore compared to the original ₹81,911 crore estimate. Critics highlight massive cost overruns, inefficient planning, and doubts about the project's ability to deliver promised benefits.
Scrutiny intensified after structural failures, such as the partial sinking of six piers and flooding incidents, as well as dam safety regulators finding 'irreparable damage' to three barrages. These issues prompted public safety concerns and political controversy, leading to formal investigations.