Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project 2025

The Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP) in Telangana has become a major topic in recent current affairs, especially due to its engineering challenges and administrative controversies. SSC aspirants must understand the significance of this massive Godavari irrigation project, its benefits, structural issues, and the judicial inquiry that followed.

This article covers all important aspects of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project, providing a clear and detailed explanation suitable for exam preparation.

What is the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project?

The Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project is a multi-stage, large-scale lift irrigation scheme constructed on the Godavari River at Kaleshwaram in Bhupalpally district, Telangana. It is one of the world’s largest irrigation projects designed to address the water needs of Telangana’s agriculture and drinking water demands.

Key Features:

• Utilizes a canal network spanning over 1,800 km (KLIP canal network length).

• Aims to irrigate around 16 lakh acres across 13 districts in Telangana.

• Stores approximately 240 thousand million cubic feet (tcf) of water.

• Water allocation includes:

  • 169 tmc ft for irrigation

  • 30 tmc ft for Hyderabad’s drinking water

  • 16 tmc ft for industrial use

  • 10 tmc ft for rural drinking water

Initially, the project was estimated to cost ₹71,000 crore, but the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation cost has now escalated beyond ₹1 lakh crore.

Location Shift: From Tummidihatti to Medigadda

One of the most debated decisions in the project’s execution was the shift of the barrage location from Tummidihatti to Medigadda. The original plan had the barrage at Tummidihatti, which had hydrological clearance and significant work already done under the Pranahita Chevella Sujala Sravanti (PCSS) project.

However, the project authorities claimed water unavailability at Tummidihatti, prompting the move to Medigadda. This move was controversial because Central Water Commission data showed over 200 tmc ft availability at Tummidihatti, raising questions about the decision’s rationale.

This shift affected project costs and timelines and has been a focal point in the judicial commission report on KLIP Telangana.

Structural Issues and Damages in KLIP

Soon after its inauguration, several KLIP barrage structural issues emerged, raising safety concerns:

• The Sundilla barrage’s piers sank within just three years.

• Cracks developed in both the Annaram and Sundilla barrages after large volumes of water were stored.

• Investigations found that these barrages were constructed on permeable foundations, which are unsuitable for such heavy water inflows.

• These structural damages in Kaleshwaram barrages have led to doubts about the engineering standards used and the long-term safety of the project.

These problems underline the challenges of executing such a large Telangana multi-stage irrigation project.

Judicial Inquiry and Its Findings

Due to these growing concerns, the Telangana government set up a judicial commission led by Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose to investigate the allegations. The inquiry lasted 15 months and involved examining over 110 witnesses, including former Chief Ministers and ministers involved in the project.

The commission's report, submitted in July 2025, highlighted:

• Lapses in site selection include the Kaleshwaram project, the Medigadda site shift decision.

• Poor construction quality, particularly the barrage foundations.

• Administrative and procedural lapses in project execution.

The government has promised to discuss the findings in the legislature and seek political consensus on future actions.

Benefits of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project

Despite the controversies, the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation benefits for Telangana are significant:

• Provides reliable irrigation water to drought-prone regions.

• Supports Telangana’s farmers, increasing agricultural productivity.

• Ensures Hyderabad city’s drinking water needs are met.

• Supplies water for industrial use, boosting economic development.

• Helps rural areas with drinking water, improving health, and sanitation.

These advantages are the reasons the project was hailed as a lifeline for Telangana irrigation when it was launched.

Current Reactions and Future Outlook

The ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) has defended the project, stating it had the necessary approvals from statutory bodies like the Central Water Commission and was ratified by the Telangana Assembly. They argue that the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project complies with required procedures, although the full documentation has not been made public.

The ongoing debate centers on accountability, project safety, and cost management. The future of the project depends heavily on how the government addresses the safety concerns ithe n the Kaleshwaram project barrages and the commission’s recommendations.

Important SSC Exam Takeaways:

• Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project is located on the Godavari River water project in Telangana.

• It is one of the largest lift irrigation schemes with an extensive canal network length of 1800 km.

• The project faced a major site shift from Tummidihatti to Medigadda despite sufficient water availability at the original site.

• Structural damages like sinking piers and cracks in barrages highlight engineering challenges.

• The judicial commission report on KLIP Telangana exposed procedural and construction lapses.

• Water allocation includes irrigation, drinking water for Hyderabad and rural areas, and industrial use.

• The project has seen a significant cost overrun of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project beyond initial estimates.

Final Thoughts

The Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project stands as one of the most ambitious and largest lift irrigation schemes in the world, designed to transform the water landscape of Telangana. Despite its immense potential benefits—including irrigation of millions of acres and providing drinking water to urban and rural areas—the project has faced significant challenges related to structural safety, site selection, and cost overruns.

The judicial inquiry has brought to light critical lapses in planning and execution, emphasizing the need for stringent oversight in large infrastructure projects. Moving forward, addressing these issues with transparency and technical rigor will be essential to ensure the sustainability and safety of the project.

Ultimately, the success of the Kaleshwaram project will depend on effective governance and continued commitment to meeting Telangana’s water needs.