Harish Rao Accuses Congress of "Misinformation Campaign" Against Kaleshwaram Project, Defends BRS Government’s Vision
HYDERABAD – In a strongly worded press release issued on Saturday, former Telangana minister T Harish Rao launched a scathing attack on the Congress party, accusing them of orchestrating a deliberate misinformation campaign against the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project. Rao, a prominent leader of the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), specifically targeted Telangana Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy for making what he termed "baseless claims" and highlighted perceived contradictions in the Congress party’s stance on the project. He emphasized the irony of the Congress government continuing to utilize the Kaleshwaram reservoirs and pump houses while simultaneously labeling the project a “white elephant,” questioning the logic of criticizing infrastructure they demonstrably rely upon. Rao staunchly defended the BRS government’s vision behind the project, asserting its crucial role in the state’s agricultural development and water security.
Rao’s statement further intensified the ongoing political battle surrounding the Kaleshwaram project, a massive irrigation infrastructure undertaking designed to harness the waters of the Godavari River. The project has been a subject of intense debate, with the Congress party consistently raising concerns about its cost-effectiveness and alleged irregularities in its execution. Rao, however, framed the Congress’s criticisms as politically motivated, aimed at undermining the BRS government’s accomplishments. He directly challenged the narrative presented by Congress leaders, characterizing their allegations as a deliberate attempt to mislead the public and discredit a project of vital importance to Telangana’s farmers.
Taking direct aim at Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president A. Revanth Reddy and Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy, Rao labeled them the true “white elephants” of Telangana. He accused them of undermining the state’s revenue and jeopardizing Telangana’s rightful share of river waters. This pointed attack reflects the escalating political tensions between the ruling BRS and the opposition Congress, with the Kaleshwaram project serving as a central point of contention. Rao’s strong language underscores the high stakes of the political battle being waged in the state, as both parties vie for public support.
Addressing specific allegations made by Congress leaders regarding the project’s location, Rao refuted claims that the shift from Tummidihetti to Medigadda was driven by corrupt motives. He cited official correspondence from the Central Water Commission, dated February 18, 2015, and March 4, 2015, which confirmed insufficient water availability at Tummidihetti. He further substantiated his argument by highlighting the presence of the Chapral Wildlife Sanctuary at Tummidihetti and a letter from the Maharashtra chief minister cautioning against investing in the Tummidihetti location due to its impracticality. This detailed rebuttal aimed to dismantle the Congress’s narrative of corruption and mismanagement surrounding the project’s location change.
Continuing his offensive, Rao accused the previous Congress government of misappropriating ₹2,328 crore under the guise of mobilization advances for the Pranahita-Chevella project, a precursor to the Kaleshwaram project. He alleged that the Congress government, in a 2007 order, estimated the project’s cost at ₹17,875 crore, a figure that ballooned to ₹38,500 crore within 19 months without any tangible progress on the ground. He further claimed that subsequent proposals submitted to the central government inflated the estimate even further to ₹40,300 crore. Rao accused the Congress of siphoning off ₹2,328 crore for surveys and mobilization over a decade without achieving any substantial progress, casting a shadow of suspicion over their handling of the project’s finances.
In his concluding remarks, Harish Rao reiterated the BRS government’s commitment to the development of Telangana’s irrigation infrastructure and accused the Congress of attempting to obstruct progress through baseless allegations. He positioned the Kaleshwaram project as a testament to the BRS government’s vision for a prosperous and water-secure Telangana, contrasting it with what he characterized as the Congress party’s legacy of mismanagement and corruption. This forceful defense of the Kaleshwaram project and simultaneous attack on the Congress party underscores the increasingly acrimonious political climate in Telangana, with both parties engaging in a war of words over the state’s development agenda.