Telangana Calls for CBI Probe into Kaleshwaram Project Irregularities

Speedy Summary

• Proclamation: Telangana Chief Minister A. revanth Reddy announced a CBI probe into alleged irregularities in the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project after a 10-hour legislative assembly discussion on August 31, 2025.
• Commission Report: Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose-led inquiry commission found negligence, suppressed facts, financial irregularities, and structural faults in constructing Medigadda, Annaram, and Sundilla barrages. Previous BRS government and former CM K. Chandrashekhar rao were held responsible for planning and execution lapses.
• Costs & Debt: The project involved borrowing ₹85,449 crore; ₹49,835 crore has been paid towards principal and interest so far. The state still carries ₹60,869 crore debt while an additional ₹47,000 crore is required to complete remaining works.
• Project Issues: Design deficiencies led to damage at the Medigadda barrage; complaints were lodged about such issues as early as October 2020.
• Government’s Stance: CBI investigation was deemed necessary due to involvement of multiple agencies (State/Central),including WAPCOS and Power Finance Corporation.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The announcement of a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry marks a pivotal moment in addressing allegations surrounding the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project-often touted as one of India’s largest irrigation initiatives. If substantiated by the ongoing investigation initiated against the previous administration’s handling of funds and planning errors documented by Justice Ghose’s Commission Report could carry broad implications across fiscal accountability frameworks within state-led infrastructure projects extending future oversight tightening regulated audits elsewhere stemming unique clash judicial oversight beyond conventionally political claims offering new paradigms systematic multi-agency scrutiny future governance backlash revolution setups alike.Further developments findings disproportionate eventual impacts shed brightly tracing critical anomalies institutionalizing finance recalibration ukuthula…