Telangana Calls for CBI Probe into Kaleshwaram Project Irregularities

quick Summary

• Telangana Chief minister A. Revanth Reddy announced a CBI probe into alleged irregularities in the construction of the kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project, following extensive discussions in the Legislative Assembly on August 31, 2025.
• The decision follows findings by a Commission of Inquiry led by former Supreme Court judge Justice Pinaki chandra ghose,wich reported negligence,financial irregularities,and structural faults in Medigadda,Annaram,and Sundilla barrages.
• The previous BRS government under CM K. Chandrashekhar Rao was held responsible for poor planning and execution of the project.
• The project incurred ₹85,449 crore worth of borrowings with high-interest rates; ₹49,835 crore has been repaid in principal and interest thus far. An estimated debt burden of ₹60,869 crore remains along with an additional funding requirement of ₹47,000 crore to complete unfinished works.
• NDSA also flagged design and quality control issues causing damage to Medigadda barrage; complaints about damage were frist lodged at Mahadevpur police station on October 21, 2020.
• Chief Minister reddy accused then-CM Rao’s administration of shifting key technical decisions improperly for political or personal gain.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The move to hand over investigations to CBI highlights Telangana’s commitment to clarity amid allegations surrounding one of India’s costliest irrigation projects. With critically important financial debts tied to incomplete works-₹60K+ crore outstanding-the implications extend beyond governance accountability into economic ramifications affecting fiscal sustainability.

Given prior involvement from multiple entities (public sector firms like WAPCOS) combined intertwined federal-state lending dynamics point involve broader ecosystem flaws