Kaleshwaram row triggers heated exchanges in Rajya Sabha

A heated exchange broke out in the Rajya Sabha between BRS MP KR Suresh Reddy and Union Minister G Kishan Reddy over the Kaleshwaram project, with both sides trading allegations on project execution, damages and Centre-State relations.

Hyderabad: A heated exchange erupted in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday between BRS Parliamentary Party leader KR Suresh Reddy and Union Minister for Coal G Kishan Reddy over the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project. While Suresh Reddy strongly objected to remarks made by Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil against the project, Kishan Reddy defended his colleague and blamed the previous BRS regime for alleged structural damages.

The confrontation arose during a discussion on amendments to the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, in the Rajya Sabha, after Suresh Reddy objected to Patil’s statement that Rs 1 lakh crore spent on Kaleshwaram had been wasted. He demanded that the remarks be expunged or that the Minister apologise, terming them misleading and warning of a breach of privilege if left uncorrected.

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Amid disruptions from both BJP and Congress MPs, the BRS MP asserted that the project was completed without Central financial assistance and played a key role in boosting Telangana’s agricultural output. He recalled that the BJP-led Centre had repeatedly acknowledged the achievements of Telangana, including the Kaleshwaram project, in Parliament in the past.

He clarified that Kaleshwaram comprised multiple barrages, reservoirs, tunnels and an extensive pipeline network. He stated that the reported damage was limited to a single barrage, with repair costs estimated at Rs 300 crore. “Due to inefficiency of the current Congress government in Telangana, the project currently remains non-functional,” he said.

Suresh Reddy alleged continuous injustice to Telangana, citing amendments to the Act only favouring Andhra Pradesh, including the transfer of seven mandals without consultation. Likening his appeal to the Pandavas’ plea for five villages in the Mahabharata, he urged the return of five villages abutting Bhadrachalam to Telangana.

Reminding that Telangana’s formation was the result of sustained struggle, he said the intent of State bifurcation was to live like brothers and work towards shared prosperity. He asserted that Telangana was never opposed to the Centre’s support for the development of Andhra Pradesh, but had only sought equitable treatment.

He pointed to several pending commitments, including a steel plant, a mining university, road projects and Rs 900 crore for backward regions. He also referred to the scrapping of the ITIR project for Hyderabad, requesting its revival to strengthen the city’s position as a technology hub. He urged the Union government to ensure parity in extending benefits to both States, including granting national project status to irrigation schemes.

Responding sharply, Kishan Reddy blamed the previous BRS government for structural damages in the Kaleshwaram project, particularly at Medigadda barrage, which he said became non-functional based on expert findings. He alleged that the project was executed without adequate technical consultation. He accused the previous government of treating Kaleshwaram like an ATM and mismanaging public funds.

“The project was executed with public funds, but not from the pockets of Chandrashekhar Rao or the BRS. They treated it like an ATM,” he said, adding that Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy failed to take action against former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao despite these allegations.

On the issue of the seven mandals, Kishan Reddy maintained that their merger was part of the original Reorganisation framework and attempted to blame the Congress for the same. He also claimed that Chandrashekhar Rao did not raise the issue and instead went to meet Sonia Gandhi and thanked her for the creation of Telangana.

It may be noted that the merger of seven mandals in Andhra Pradesh was done through an ordinance issued on July 17, 2014, triggering widespread protests in Telangana, with the then Chief Minister-designate Chandrashekhar Rao calling for a Telangana bandh.