Revanth Reddy Launches Scathing Attack on KCR Over Kaleshwaram Project, Calls BRS Leaders ‘Economic Terrorists’

Hyderabad, July 7:

Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy launched a blistering attack on the opposition BRS over the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project, accusing former Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) of redesigning the project for political and financial gains while ignoring expert advice. Addressing the media at Praja Bhavan, Revanth alleged that the BRS leadership was attempting to shift blame to protect its political existence. 

The Chief Minister praised Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy for compiling reports from multiple expert agencies and placing factual information before the public. He said the Congress government remained committed to restoring the project and ensuring Telangana farmers benefited from it.

Revanth recalled that the original Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Pranahita-Chevella Project, conceived during the Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy government, aimed to provide irrigation to nearly 1.64 million acres. According to him, the project was initially estimated at ₹39,000 crore, with about ₹11,670 crore spent before the redesign.

He alleged that after Telangana's formation, the KCR government abandoned the original design despite a technical committee reportedly advising against constructing a barrage at Medigadda. Instead, he claimed, a favourable report was obtained from another consultancy, resulting in the project's redesign, relocation, and a cost escalation to nearly ₹81,000 crore, without increasing either water availability or irrigated area.

The Chief Minister said engineers had warned as early as 2020 about structural issues at the Medigadda barrage and recommended restoration. He further claimed that inadequate construction quality, poor maintenance, and failure to follow engineering norms led to the deterioration of Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla barrages. Referring to findings of the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA), Revanth said the preliminary report highlighted deficiencies in quality, maintenance and compliance with technical standards.

Taking direct aim at the BRS leadership, Revanth described KCR, K.T. Rama Rao (KTR) and T. Harish Rao as "economic terrorists," alleging that massive public funds were wasted while the state was burdened with huge debts. He questioned the rationale behind spending over ₹1 lakh crore on a project that, according to him, failed to deliver the promised benefits.

The Chief Minister challenged KCR to a detailed debate on the Kaleshwaram project in the Telangana Assembly. He said the Congress government was ready to convene a joint session if the BRS formally requested it through the Speaker. Revanth also asserted that if the BRS could convincingly explain why the project should be entrusted to them, the government would even consider allowing them to oversee restoration work.

Concluding his remarks, Revanth said the Congress government would continue using public infrastructure and welfare schemes created by previous governments whenever they served the interests of the people, but maintained that those responsible for alleged irregularities in the Kaleshwaram project must be held accountable under the law.