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Hindustan Times
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Kavitha stages protest against notice to KCR in Kaleshwaram issue
Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) member of the legislative council (MLC) Kalvakuntla Kavitha on Wednesday called the notice summons issued to her father and party president K Chandrasekhar Rao in connection with Kaleshwaram irrigation project as 'politically motivated' Addressing a protest organised in Hyderabad by Telangana Jagruti against the commission's notice to KCR, Kavitha accused the Congress government of seeking to 'erase' KCR's legacy as farmers love him for his pro-farmer initiatives. 'Totally, 40 lakh (4 million) acres will get water once the Kaleshwaram project is completed. All that is kept aside. The conspiracy is to tarnish the image of KCR,' she said. Justice PC Ghose commission has issued summon for questioning in connection with alleged irregularities in the construction of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP) on Godavari river. During the protest at Hyderabad's Indira Park, no BRS leaders were part of the protest event and party flags were conspicuously absent. The party has been avoiding Kavitha's programmes ever since she took up the 'Samajika Telangana' (Telangana for social justice) cause on May 1. On May 2, she wrote a letter to her father raising several critical issues, such as allegations of a proposed merger with the Bharatiya Janata party and asserted that she would resist any such move. 'Wednesday's dharna opposing summons to KCR on the Kaleshwaram project issue is obviously an attempt to create a narrative that she is the true political heir of her father and expose the other party leaders, including her brother KT Rama Rao, who did not take up any protests even if the state government is targeting KCR,' said political analyst Syed Zakir. Meanwhile, Kavitha said that the Congress government had constituted the judicial commission headed by Justice Ghose only to politically target KCR. 'It is not the Kaleshwaram Commission, but a Congress Commission as the inquiry is not about accountability, but about political defamation,' she said. The Telangana Jagruthi president said issuing notices to KCR, who was instrumental in achieving Telangana's statehood, amounted to issuing notices to the entire population of the state. Kavitha claimed that the KLIP was a transformative effort that brought water to millions of acres across the state. 'The project is not confined to just three barrages, but comprises 21 pump houses, 15 reservoirs, 200 km of tunnels, and 1,500 km of canal network,' she asserted. The Telangana Congress refuted the allegations levelled by Kavitha on the Kaleshwaram commission issuing summons to KCR for questioning. 'The BRS leader is resorting to high drama only for her political survival,' senior Congress leader and state BC welfare minister Ponnam Prabhakar said. He said that the Ghosh commission has the authority to summon anyone for inquiry. 'It's up to the commission to decide whom to summon. We are not opposing the construction of projects for providing water for irrigation. But the BRS leaders looted Telangana's wealth in the name of Kaleshwaram project,' he alleged. With inputs from PTI
The Print
a day ago
- Business
- The Print
Telangana govt must do more than blame BRS. Junking Kaleshwaram project shows incompetence
For the BRS, the Kaleshwaram project is its crown jewel. It has been designed to bring drinking water and irrigation to Telangana's parched regions. Originally called the 'Dr BR Ambedkar Pranahita Chevella Sujala Sravanthi Project' and announced by the Andhra Pradesh government in 2012 before the state's bifurcation, the scheme was pegged at Rs 38,000 crore. By the time KCR inaugurated it in 2019, having renamed it 'Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project', it had doubled in cost to Rs 80,190 crore. Of course, the area it would irrigate in Telangana had also expanded. And today, the cost has gone up to Rs 1.2 lakh crore. One of the core issues that led to the formation of Telangana in 2014 was water scarcity. So, it was not surprising when former chief minister and Bharat Rashtra Samithi supremo K Chandrashekar Rao announced the commencement of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project in 2015. The project aims to distribute about 240 thousand million cubic feet (TMC) of water, of which 190 TMC will be lifted from the Godavari river basin. It also involves building reservoirs at various places, and is expected to irrigate 18.8 lakh acres of land with 165 TMC of water. It will also provide 40 TMC of drinking water (30 to Hyderabad and 10 to the Mission Bhagiratha drinking water project) and supply another 16 TMC for industrial purposes. However, after the Congress came to power in Telangana following the 2023 Assembly elections, the project has become an albatross around KCR's neck. The former CM is facing a judicial inquiry into alleged irregularities in the project. One of the major reasons behind this is the collapse of the Medigadda barrage under the lift irrigation project in the run-up to the 2023 elections. The Congress, then in the opposition, had promised to punish the BRS and probe into the matter. And incumbent CM Revanth Reddy has certainly kept his word. In fact, a vigilance report has indicted officials and called for action against them. Also read: China is hypocritical on IWT. Just look at how it has maximised upstream water usage Collapse of Kaleshwaram Corruption or irregularities are not a new thing for Telangana or India. But as things stand, the Kaleshwaram project's future under the Congress government looks bleak. Irrigation minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy said that the project has 'collapsed', blaming the BRS for it. He added that if the original plan for Rs 38,000 crore (with the project originating at Tummidihatti village and not Kaleshwaram) was followed, then the cost would not have gone up to an alleged Rs 1.2 lakh crore now. While it is common for ruling parties to probe into the irregularities of previous governments, Uttam Kumar's declaration of the collapse of the Kaleshwaram project is rather surprising. If the current government is bent on rectifying past mistakes, why not fix the project? Uttam Kumar claims that the Rs 62,000 crore that was added to the original cost could have been used for other projects. But public projects are never made for profit. The cost burden is usually offset by benefits that accumulate gradually over the years. In the case of the Kaleshwaram project, it is supposed to benefit lakhs of farmers in Telangana who were promised more water once the state was formed. If the project is shelved after investing all this money, then what was the last decade spent on it for? Nothing? However, current employees and former officials of the irrigation department gave a different explanation for why the project was shelved. According to a senior irrigation department official, the irrigation barrage for the Pranahita Chevalla project has been built, just not at the level at which it was originally planned. 'Due to various issues at Tummidihatti [the original focal point under the Pranahita Chevella project], the barrage was shifted to Kaleshwaram. The other reason for expanding the project and shifting the focal point was due to objections from the government of Maharashtra, as there would have been more submergence in the neighbouring state, had we followed the old plans,' he said. A former irrigation department official who worked with the previous government said that the Chaprala Wildlife Sanctuary is located near the Pranahita Chevella project, due to which its scope was limited. 'The storage capacity for the project in that area was reduced because of the sanctuary and other objections. So after expanding the project, the whole thing was divided into two parts, the other being Kaleshwaram, which is what the entire project is named after,' the former official added. KCR would not have wanted the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh or Congress government's stamp on the project, which is why he most likely renamed it. However, beyond the technical issues, it is a fact that farmers in the state are now receiving more water. The entire idea of the project is to avoid water wastage. The geniuses in the current government must understand that public projects like this simply cannot be junked. When Telangana was formed, there were a lot of aspirations that had to be fulfilled. The youth wanted jobs and the farmers wanted water. The current government must do more than merely blame the BRS for problems with the Kaleshwaram project. By all means, punish the corrupt, but why deprive the state of water? I understand that CM Revanth Reddy is currently at odds trying to financially stabilise the government, but junking everything out of political spite is rather unfortunate. The Kaleshwaram project is important for Telangana. Collapsing it, rather than fixing the project, only shows incompetence. Yunus Lasania is a Hyderabad-based journalist whose work primarily focuses on politics, history and culture. He tweets @YunusLasania. Views are personal. (Edited by Prasanna Bachchhav)
India Today
a day ago
- Business
- India Today
K Kavitha calls summons to father KCR in Kaleshwaram project political vendetta
Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLC K Kavitha staged a protest at Dharna Chowk in Hyderabad today, condemning the judicial summons issued to her father, former Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR), in connection with the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme (KLIS), calling it a politically driven attempt to target under the banner of Telangana Jagruthi, the cultural organisation led by Kavitha, the protest saw party supporters gather in large numbers to oppose the Justice PC Ghose Commission's summons to KCR over alleged irregularities in the multi-crore irrigation so-called judicial commission is nothing but a Congress commission,' Kavitha said, accusing the Congress-led state government of trying to 'erase KCR's legacy' and discredit his pro-farmer initiatives. She alleged that the probe was part of a larger political conspiracy and insisted that the Kaleshwaram project, which aims to irrigate 40 lakh acres when fully operational, has been a lifeline for farmers across Telangana. 'The entire intent of this notice is to tarnish the image of a leader who gave Telangana water, power, and self-respect,' she who was initially summoned to appear before the commission on June 5, has reportedly requested a new date and is now expected to depose on June also targeted current Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, questioning his silence on Andhra Pradesh's proposed Polavaram-Banakacherla project, which aims to divert 200 TMC of surplus Godavari water to drought-prone areas in Andhra claimed the Telangana government was ignoring serious inter-state water issues while focusing on what she called a 'political witch-hunt.'In response, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu had earlier said that the Polavaram-Banakacherla plan would only utilise surplus Godavari water that would otherwise flow into the sea, and urged Telangana not to Kaleshwaram project, once touted as the world's largest multi-stage lift irrigation scheme, has come under scrutiny over cost escalations, design flaws, and substandard construction, allegations the BRS strongly Watch IN THIS STORY#Telangana
Hans India
a day ago
- Business
- Hans India
Kavitha leads protest against notices to KCR over irregularities in Kaleshwaram project
Hyderabad: Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLC K. Kavitha on Wednesday led a protest against the notices issued to party president and former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao by P. C. Ghose Commission, which is probing the alleged irregularities in the Kaleshwaram project. Telangana Jagruthi, headed by Kavitha, held a Maha Dharna near Indira Park. She termed the notices a political conspiracy against BRS leader K. Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR). Kavitha, who is daughter of KCR, alleged that the Congress government formed the Commission to defame KCR. Stating that the former chief minister transformed Telangana's agricultural landscape and turned barren lands fertile, she accused the Congress of targeting the former Chief Minister in an attempt to divert public attention from its governance "failures". "What mistake KCR has committed that he has been served the notice?" she asked and remarked that notice to KCR is like notice to the entire Telangana. The BRS MLC alleged that the Congress government is not carrying out minor repairs to the Medigadda Barrage, a part of the Kaleshwaram project. She pointed out that once the project is completed, it will irrigate 35 per cent of Telangana. Kavitha slammed Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy for his failure to stop Andhra Pradesh from taking away the due share of Telangana in the Godavari River. She demanded that the state government stop diversion of waters in the name of the Godavari-Penna link project. The BRS MLC also found fault with former minister and BJP MP Eatala Rajender for not speaking out against the notice to KCR. She demanded that Rajender take up the responsibility of bringing national status to the Kaleshwaram project and to stop the Godavari-Banakacharla link project. This is the first protest led by Kavitha after her recent outbursts, indirectly targeting her brother and BRS working president K. T. Rama Rao (KTR). Kavitha had questioned why the BRS did not organise any protest against the Kaleshwaram Commission's notices to KCR. She had remarked that mere posts on the social media platform X would do no good to the party. Kavitha, whose confidential letter to KCR got leaked, triggering a storm in the party, made it clear that she will work only under the leadership of KCR. She lashed out at party leaders, targeting her through "paid articles" and social media posts.
India Today
2 days ago
- General
- India Today
BRS will offer legal aid to Indian students in US, says KTR
Amid the Trump administration's crackdown on foreign students, BRS Working President KT Rama Rao on Tuesday pledged support to Indian students, including Telugu students, in the US, stating that the party would set up a legal assistance cell to help them during these challenging times. KTR, who was interacting with Telugu students at the University of Texas at Dallas, also advised that students must understand the US laws and societal changes and adapt made the commitment as international students, including those from India, are facing heightened scrutiny in the US.A series of advisories has been issued by the US government and universities for these students, asking them to avoid actions that could jeopardise their visa status as recorded in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). KTR emphasised that many students come to the US for higher education with great hopes, and if they unknowingly make mistakes due to a lack of awareness, BRS' US wing would work to provide the necessary legal assistance, according to a post on the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) party, formerly known as TRS, official X acknowledged the emotional toll on students who have to return due to such situations, affecting not just them but their families too. Hence, he said, a decision was made to support also advised that students must understand US laws and societal changes and adapt accordingly. Every student should be aware of local laws and social dynamics, according to the BRS leader also urged students to focus not just on ranks and grades but on life ALSO URGES STUDENTS IN US TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF INDIA"Student should strive to fulfil dreams and aspirations within this short span," said KTR, the son of ex-Telangana CM K Chandrashekhar Rao."Students should not aim only for jobs but work towards bringing positive change in society and the world," he highlighted that innovation is happening globally, and India must compete with other countries in this domain. He encouraged Indian students studying in US institutions to focus on also urged students to complete their higher education in the US and establish companies in also expressed concern over brain drain and urged Indian youths abroad to contribute to the development of India and to his father's political journey, Rama Rao emphasised to students that meaningful change demands courage and the interaction, he mentioned how KCR, in his early 40s, resigned from all his posts, to realise the dream of Telangana state."Many ridiculed him at the time, but after 14 years of persistent struggle, he succeeded in achieving statehood, earning praise from all sections of society," he Watch
