Kaleshwaram lift irrigation project

What is it?

• The KLIP is a huge irrigation project on the Godavari River in Telangana, at Kaleshwaram in Bhupalpally district.

• It’s called the world’s largest multi-stage lift irrigation project because water is pumped in multiple stages through canals and reservoirs to supply farms, villages, industries, and Hyderabad city.

• Goal: Irrigate 16 lakh acres in 13 districts, supply drinking water to Hyderabad & villages, and support industries.

How was it built?

• Barrages (low dams) were built at Medigadda, Annaram, Sundilla, and Ramadugu to store water.

• Planned to store 240 TMC (thousand million cubic feet) of water:

  • 169 TMC for irrigation

  • 30 TMC for Hyderabad drinking water

  • 10 TMC for villages along the way

  • 16 TMC for industries and other uses

• Originally estimated at ₹71,000 crore, but costs went above ₹1 lakh crore.

The controversy

1. Site shift – The project location was moved from Tummidihatti to Medigadda.

   • Official reason: Not enough water at Tummidihatti.

   • But an inquiry found the Central Water Commission had estimated 200+ TMC available there.

   • Also, 30% of another earlier project at Tummidihatti was already built for ₹11,000 crore.

2. Weak foundations – Barrages were built on permeable soil, not solid rock.

   • Result: Sundilla barrage piers sank.

   • Annaram and Sundilla barrages also developed cracks.

   • Engineers had advised against storing too much water there, but huge amounts were stored anyway.

3. Decision-making – Allegations that then CM K. Chandrashekar Rao decided the project location and execution without proper Cabinet approval.

Inquiry

• Congress promised an investigation before elections.

• A judicial commission led by Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose was set up.

• Report was submitted July 31, 2025.