Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil’s remarks on the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP) led to a heated exchange in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, where Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MP KR Suresh Reddy demanded an apology and removal of what he called “false and misleading” comments from the records of the House.
The row erupted after Patil allegedly remarked that nearly ₹ 1 lakh spent on the Kaleshwaram project was “washed away” during a debate on The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2026, in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.
Mr. Suresh Reddy, who objected strongly, said the statement was a “gross distortion” of the facts.
“Kaleshwaram is the lifeline of Telangana. By making baseless allegations, the minister is deceiving the Parliament and the people of the country,” he said and demanded an apology from the minister. Defending the project, Mr. Suresh Reddy said that Kaleshwaram includes several barrages, reservoirs, thousands of kilometers of pipelines, several tunnels and electricity substations.
Reacting to Suresh Reddy’s comments, Union Coal Minister G. Kishan Reddy blamed the previous BRS government for project deficiencies, particularly at the Medigadda barrage. “Medigadda barrage has become non-functional. This is not a political claim but a fact established by expert committees,” said Mr. Kishan Reddy, adding that public money was misused. He accused BRS of treating the project like an ATM.
Referring to the promises made during the bifurcation of the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh, Mr. Suresh Reddy also claimed that Telangana had been facing “continuous injustice” since the passing of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act, 2014. He criticized the transfer of seven mandals to Andhra Pradesh and said the decision was taken without consulting Telangana.
Mr. Suresh Reddy also demanded national project status for irrigation schemes in Telangana and pointed out the cancellation of the Information Technology Investment Region (ITIR) project for Hyderabad.
Published – 03 Apr 2026 0:16 IST
