Ex-Telangana CM KCR appears before judicial panel probing 'irregularities' in Kaleshwaram project

Former Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao was summoned on Wednesday.

Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) president and former Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Wednesday appeared before the judicial commission probing the alleged irregularities in the Kaleshwaram project.

The Kaleshwaram irrigation project was built during the previous BRS regime.

KCR reached the commission's office a little after 11 am. Several BRS leaders and workers assembled at the BRS Bhavan, in view of KCR's appearance, where the commission's office is located. Police made elaborate security arrangements, PTI reported.

#WATCH | BRS party chief and former CM of Telangana, KCR, arrives to appear before the PC Gosh Commission in connection with alleged irregularities in the Kaleshwaram project.Recently, BRS MLA and former Irrigation Minister Harish Rao appeared before the Ghosh Commission. pic.twitter.com/DsiGbMErni
ANI (@ANI) June 11, 2025

BRS working president and son of KCR, KT Rama Rao told ANI, "The works that have been done by KCR in the 10 years, in independent India, such works have not been done in any state. Whether water or electricity, in India's history, none of the CMs have done as much work. If he had worked like this in any other country, he would have got recognition, and maybe the highest civilian award. However, both the BJP and Congress are conspiring against him. The project, which was completed in 4 years - the world's biggest lift irrigation project - was done under the leadership of KCR, and 45 lakh acres of land receive water. However, to gain political benefits, the project is being maligned. I think the commission has also understood this by now. Whatever questions will be asked, KCR will reply aptly."

Earlier on June 9, BRS MLA and former Irrigation Minister Harish Rao and on June 6, BJP MP Etela Rajender, who previously served as Finance Minister in the BRS government, appeared before the commission.

The commission has also questioned a number of engineers and other officials, especially of the irrigation department, in the last about one year since its probe began.

Telangana Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy recently said the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) has labelled the Kaleshwaram project, built at a cost of over Rs one lakh crore, to be "probably" the biggest man-made disaster in the country, PTI reported.

The damage to the barrages of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP) became a key issue during the 2023 assembly elections in the state.

The commission is probing possible lapses in the planning, design, construction, quality control, operation and maintenance of the Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla barrages under the KLIP. The inquiry was prompted by the collapse of piers at the Medigadda barrage and reported issues at other locations.

The one-man commission, headed by retired Supreme Court judge and former Lokpal of India, Justice PC Ghose, was constituted in March 2024. It has examined reports from the National Dam Safety Authority and the state’s vigilance department, both of which pointed to irregularities.

(With inputs from agencies)