Uttam Tears into KCR: Cites Kaleshwaram Collapse and Unpaid Bills, Says BRS Ruined State Finances
They built Kaleshwaram for commissions and pushed the state into massive debt, says irrigation minister
Hyderabad: Telangana irrigation minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy has vehemently blamed former chief minister K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) for the Kaleshwaram project's failure, stating its "collapse during his own tenure" was due to flawed design and execution.
Speaking in Hyderabad, Uttam Kumar Reddy strongly criticised BRS leaders, urging them to "hang their heads in shame" and stop defending the Medigadda project. He highlighted the project's massive cost of ₹1.80 lakh crore, noting that it largely remained unused, with the BRS government utilising only 70 to 80 TMC of water over five years.
The minister accused the previous government of prioritising personal gain over public welfare, asserting, "They built Kaleshwaram for commissions and pushed the state into massive debt." This financial mismanagement now forces the state to pay ₹16,000 crore annually in interest on BRS-era loans.
Uttam also addressed the water allocation agreements, noting the previous government had agreed to allot 512 TMC to Andhra Pradesh and 299 TMC to Telangana for 10 years. He challenged the BRS, asking why they failed to complete the Palamuru or SLBC projects.
Furthermore, he pointed out that the Palamuru–Ranga Reddy project is stalled with pending environmental clearances and unpaid bills totaling ₹5,000 crore. Uttam Kumar Reddy concluded that the "people of Palamuru have been betrayed" by the inaction of the former regime.
