Two major lift irrigation projects in Telangana, the Kaleshwaram lift irrigation project (KLIP) and the Palamuru-Rangareddy lift irrigation scheme (PRLIS), have come under scrutiny for failing to justify the massive expenditure incurred on them by the previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government. The KLIP, built on the Godavari river at a cost of ₹93,872 crore, has only provided irrigation to 98,590 acres, while the PRLIS, being constructed on the Krishna river at an estimated cost of ₹35,200 crore, is yet to come into operation after nine years and an expenditure of ₹31,423 crore.
In a report presented in the state assembly, state irrigation minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy highlighted that the previous government had focused on constructing reservoirs, barrages, pump houses, and power sub-stations for the KLIP but neglected to complete canals and distributaries essential for irrigating fields. The Medigadda barrage in Jayashankar Bhupalpally village suffered major damages during the October 2023 floods, rendering the entire project defunct for the past two seasons.
The National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) engineers have advised against storing water in the reservoirs due to the damages, leading to the opening of all gates of the three barrages to release water downstream. The state government now faces the burden of repaying a loan of ₹16,000 crore annually for the next five years, as per the report.
The Comptroller and Auditor General’s report disclosed that the state government had borrowed ₹87,449.15 crore for the KLIP, including interest during construction, at interest rates ranging from 7.8% to 10.9%. The CAG estimated that the project would require ₹25,109.41 crore for operation and debt servicing in the coming years.
Similarly, the PRLIS, which aims to irrigate around 12,00,000 acres in multiple districts and provide drinking water to villages and municipalities, has also faced delays and cost overruns. Despite an expenditure of ₹31,423 crore, the project is estimated to require an additional ₹27,000 crore to complete, bringing the total cost to over ₹58,000 crore.
The foundation for the PRLIS was laid by former chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao in 2015, but the project has yet to come into utilisation. Despite a dedication ceremony in 2023, the project works came to a halt soon after, with the minister stating that it would take another five years to complete the project at a cost of ₹6,000 crore annually.
In conclusion, the failure of these major lift irrigation projects to justify the significant expenditure incurred raises questions about the planning and execution of such projects. The state government now faces the challenge of completing these projects while managing the financial burden left by the previous administration. It remains to be seen how the government will address these issues and ensure the effective utilisation of these irrigation schemes for the benefit of the people of Telangana.