Congress’ Kaleshwaram turnaround: Revanth’s most criticised project now powers Hyderabad’s water future

The Telangana government has turned to the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project, once criticised by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, to supply drinking water to Hyderabad. The Rs 2,085 crore plan will draw Godavari water through Mallannasagar to meet the city’s growing demand

Hyderabad: In a surprising shift, the Congress-led Telangana government has embraced the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP), once heavily criticised by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy as a “colossal scam”, to implement its Rs 2,085 crore Godavari Drinking Water Supply Scheme Phases II and III.

The project was awarded to Ramky Infrastructure Limited by the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB), and it will now use KLIP’s Mallannasagar reservoir to supply Godavari water to Osmansagar and Himayat Sagar, supporting Musi River rejuvenation and providing drinking water for over 25 lakh Hyderabad residents.

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Ramky Infrastructure, through its subsidiary Mallannasagar Water Supply Limited, will execute the project under the Hybrid Annuity Model (2-year construction and 10-year operation and maintenance). Ramky management has called it a step towards “sustainable urban transformation”.

Revanth’s talks with Maharashtra to tweak the Thummidihatti barrage show a strategy to fix and utilise KLIP while probing past issues. The project ensures water security and Musi River revival.

With Phase I already delivering 172 MGD, KLIP remains vital despite structural issues in the past. As Ramky executes the works, Kaleshwaram’s flows reaching Hyderabad through Mallannasagar, once condemned, would turn into the most dependable source, with no need to depend on upper riparian states like Karnataka for emergency releases to the Krishna river.

After coming to power in 2023, Revanth Reddy called KLIP a “taint on Telangana”, citing CAG reports of cost overruns and structural issues such as the Medigadda barrage’s sinking piers. In August 2025, he handed over the probe into alleged “irregularities” to the CBI after the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) flagged structural issues in the Medigadda barrage.

But on September 8, at the Gandipet foundation laying, Revanth acknowledged its importance as a lifeline by outlining his plans to draw 20 TMC from Mallannasagar (17.5 TMC for drinking and 2.5 TMC for Musi clean-up) at Rs 7,360 crore, with completion scheduled by December 2027.

Hyderabad city’s demand is projected to hit 880 million gallons per day (MGD) by 2030, up from 580 MGD. Godavari Phase I (10 TMC) is insufficient for 1.2 crore people, making KLIP’s 30 TMC allocation critical.

Despite issues, KLIP supports groundwater and irrigation in 13 districts. Finally, it has turned essential for Telangana’s water security. (EOM)