Telangana’s Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy initiated a fiery Assembly debate on the Justice P.C. Ghose Commission report regarding the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP) in Assembly on Sunday evening. The report, tabled in the Telangana Legislative Assembly earlier in the day, exposed critical flaws in the project’s conceptualization, design, and execution under the previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government. Uttam’s speech outlined the commission’s findings, which held former Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao and former Irrigation Minister T. Harish Rao responsible for bypassing cabinet procedures, disregarding expert advice, and making unilateral decisions.

The report highlighted structural failures, notably the 2023 sinking of piers at the Medigadda barrage, rendering the project a “non-functional investment”

Uttam accused the BRS leadership of financial mismanagement amounting to Rs 1 lakh crore, alleging the project was initiated for commissions rather than public welfare. He criticized KCR and Harish Rao for constructing barrages without proper approvals and misleading the public for a decade.

The minister emphasized that the commission, led by a retired Supreme Court judge, independently uncovered these issues, refuting BRS claims of political vendetta. He challenged Harish Rao’s failure to provide credible evidence during the commission’s inquiry, stating the report exposed the “true colours” of the BRS leadership.

The debate followed the distribution of digital and hard copies of the 665-page report to Assembly members and floor leaders, respectively. Uttam assured a transparent discussion and stated that the government would decide future steps after considering all viewpoints. He highlighted the project’s economic burden, noting that a significant portion of the state’s budget is now allocated to repaying high-interest loans taken by the BRS government, unlike standard low-interest loans. 

Uttam also addressed BRS’s failed attempt to block the report’s tabling through a High Court petition, which was not heard, allowing the debate to proceed. He urged BRS leaders, including KCR, to engage in the Assembly discussion instead of resorting to legal tactics or public criticism, stressing accountability for the project’s failures.