Kaleshwaram Commission Final Report ready for submission

The Kaleshwaram Judicial Commission, tasked with investigating alleged irregularities in the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme, has finalized its comprehensive report. Chaired by Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose, a retired Supreme Court judge, the Commission is set to submit its findings to the Telangana government on July 31 or August 1, 2025.

The final report is anticipated to provide critical insights into the project’s execution and may influence future actions by the state government regarding accountability and remedial measures for the Kaleshwaram project. The government has emphasized its commitment to transparency and addressing any identified shortcomings based on the Commission’s findings.

According to sources, the Commission has incorporated all relevant aspects into its final report, with Justice Ghose overseeing final revisions and additions to ensure accuracy and completeness. The report is expected to address allegations of financial irregularities, procedural lapses, and structural deficiencies in the project, which was promoted as a flagship irrigation initiative to irrigate approximately one crore acres. The inquiry involved questioning over 116 individuals, including engineers, officials, and public representatives, to ascertain the circumstances leading to the project's challenges.

The Commission, established in March 2024 following structural failures at the Medigadda Barrage, has conducted an exhaustive inquiry into the planning, design, construction, quality control, operation, and maintenance of the Medigadda, Annaram, and Sundilla barrages. The investigation was prompted by the collapse of several piers in the Medigadda Barrage on October 21, 2023, raising concerns about the project's execution under the previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government.

The Commission’s inquiry included detailed examinations of key figures such as former Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao, former Irrigation Minister T. Harish Rao, former Finance Minister in first BRS government Eatala Rajender and several senior engineers and contractors involved in the project’s execution. Over 116 individuals, including officials from the Irrigation Department, project consultants, and representatives from contracting firms, were questioned to gather comprehensive insights into the project’s planning and implementation. Testimonies from these stakeholders helped the Commission assess the technical, financial, and administrative aspects of the Kaleshwaram project, ensuring a thorough evaluation of the factors contributing to the reported issues.

The submission of the report follows multiple extensions of the Commission’s term, with the latest extension granted until July 31, 2025, to allow for a thorough examination of all stakeholders. The Telangana Cabinet, in its previous meeting, resolved to provide all relevant details, including past Cabinet approvals and minutes from the BRS government, to assist the Commission’s probe.