Supreme Court commends Telangana’s irrigation projects, dismisses plea for CBI probe into PRLIS

On Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme, the bench stresses that developmental infrastructure of this magnitude should not be politicised or undermined by speculative legal challenges

Hyderabad: The Supreme Court has made strong observations acknowledging the significance of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project and emphasised its contributions to agricultural growth and water resource management in Telangana. The verdict delivered by the apex court while dismissing a petition seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the Palamuru-Ranga Reddy Lift Irrigation Scheme (PRLIS) has reinforced confidence in Telangana’s major irrigation initiatives.

The case was heard by a two-judge bench comprising Justice BV Nagaratna and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma, who ruled against the plea that alleged irregularities in the Palamuru-Ranga Reddy project. The petition also sought to challenge the Telangana High Court’s previous decision, which had found no merit in the accusations.

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During the hearing, Justice Nagaratna firmly stated that there was no evidence to support claims of corruption in the Palamuru-Ranga Reddy project. She highlighted that the Telangana High Court had already conducted a detailed hearing on the matter, carefully examining all allegations, and had found no irregularities that warranted Supreme Court intervention or a CBI inquiry.

She further referred to a report submitted by the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), which had reviewed the project and clarified multiple aspects of the case, eliminating any grounds for an additional investigation.

Justice Satish Chandra Sharma took a strong stand against frivolous litigation, particularly the misuse of Public Interest Litigations (PILs), cautioning that such petitions should not be filed without substantial evidence. He observed that projects like Kaleshwaram and PRLIS were executed in the larger public interest, contributing significantly to Telangana’s agricultural and infrastructural development. He noted that irrigation initiatives in the State had provided critical support to farmers, enabling large-scale paddy cultivation and ensuring water security for rural communities.

Referring to the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme, the court acknowledged its scale and impact, recognising it as one of the largest lift irrigation projects of its kind. The project has facilitated agricultural expansion across vast areas of Telangana, ensuring that farmers have access to a reliable water supply for cultivation. The bench stressed that developmental infrastructure of this magnitude should not be politicised or undermined by speculative legal challenges.

The proceedings also saw legal arguments from both sides, with senior advocate Prashant Bhushan representing the petitioner and senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi appearing on behalf of Megha Engineering & Infrastructures Ltd, the contractor executing the project. Rohatgi pointed out that four separate petitions against the project had already been dismissed by the Telangana High Court after comprehensive hearings, with no credible evidence of wrongdoing presented in any instance. He also highlighted that reputed institutions involved in the project, including BHEL, had not raised any complaints regarding its execution, further contradicting the petitioner’s claims.