KLIS irregularities: Ghose Commission report sparks slugfest between Uttam Kumar, BRS’ Harish Rao

Hyderabad: Justice PC Ghose Commission’s report on the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme (KLIS) has ignited a fierce political confrontation in Telangana.

Former Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao has strongly refuted the findings, calling them “baseless and conspiratorial. Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy has hit back, seeking a public apology from BTS. He accused the BRS of undermining constitutional institutions.

Harish Rao rejects findings, says project had Cabinet approval

In a detailed presentation after the state Cabinet resolved to place the Commission report before the Assembly, Harish Rao defended the KLIS project, stating it was a Cabinet-approved scheme and not an individual decision by former Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR).

“It wasn’t KCR’s solo decision. The Cabinet approved every stage, from Medigadda to Annaram and Sundilla barrages,” Harish said, displaying official documentation as evidence.

He promised that a future BRS government would repair the damaged piers at Medigadda and resume irrigation for farmers.

Alleges political vendetta behind Commission Report

Harish Rao alleged that the report was part of a political vendetta by the Congress government. He claimed the inquiry was conducted with a predetermined narrative and without fairness.

“The Commission's language and intent suggest a conspiracy to target BRS leadership. The facts were twisted,” he said.

The 665-page report held KCR, Harish Rao, and former finance minister Eatala Rajender accountable for decisions that led to the alleged failure of the KLIS infrastructure.

Harish questioned why the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA), which visited Medigadda, had not reviewed similar damages at the Polavaram project in Andhra Pradesh.

'KCR will be remembered like Sir Arthur Cotton'

Drawing a historical parallel, Harish said that even British engineer Sir Arthur Cotton, who built the Dowleswaram barrage, once faced an inquiry but remains revered in the Godavari region. “Likewise, KCR will always be remembered for giving Telangana the Kaleshwaram project, a lifeline for farmers,” he asserted.

He also cited the Central Water Commission’s observation of insufficient water at Tummidihatti to justify shifting the project to Medigadda. “All project documents, permissions, and DPRs were publicly available. How can the Commission ignore that?” he asked.

Uttam slams Harish, defends Commission’s integrity

Responding to Harish’s remarks, Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy said Harish Rao had insulted both the judiciary and a senior retired Supreme Court judge.

“This is not a report written by Revanth Reddy or me. It was submitted by a respected judge. Harish Rao owes an apology to the four crore people of Telangana,” Uttam said in a press statement.

He accused the BRS of consistently undermining democratic institutions and failing to respect legal scrutiny. “Even after losing power, their mindset hasn’t changed. They continue to deceive the people,” Uttam added.

‘Truth exposed, BRS scared of consequences’

Uttam asserted that the Commission thoroughly investigated all aspects of the KLIS project, from conceptual flaws to engineering failures at Medigadda. “The Commission has laid out who made the decisions, who erred, and who must be held accountable,” he said.

He accused Harish of failing to provide credible evidence during the inquiry and called the BRS reaction an attempt to avoid the legal consequences of the findings. “Now they are running scared,” he remarked.

Government Whip joins criticism

Government Whip Aadi Srinivas also condemned the BRS response, questioning the rationale behind shifting the project from Tummidihatti to Medigadda and the reasons for the barrage’s collapse. “These are questions the public deserves answers to. Not rhetoric,” he said.

Kaleshwaram without Cabinet nod: Uttam

In a sharp political attack, Uttam alleged that the KLIS was executed to facilitate commissions, not irrigation. “The ‘Mama-Alludu’ duo (KCR and Harish) built Kaleshwaram without proper Cabinet approvals and caused irregularities worth Rs 1 lakh crore,” he said, adding that the BRS leadership had no moral right to challenge the inquiry’s findings.

He urged BRS leaders to attend the Assembly session and participate in a transparent debate instead of “running the show from farmhouses and party offices.”