Hyderabad – Dr. Palavai Harish Babu, the BJP Chief Whip and Sirpur MLA, raised serious concerns about the government’s handling of repairs for the Kaleshwaram project. He questioned whether public money should be used to pay for restoration work caused by alleged mismanagement and corruption.
Speaking to the media on Sunday, Dr. Harish Babu directly challenged Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy. He pointed out that while the government talks about exposing corruption in the project, it is also considering a proposal from contractors to fully fund renovation costs.
Two major construction companies, L&T-PES (builder of the Medigadda Barrage) and APCONS (builder of the Annaram Barrage), recently wrote to the government. They requested full reimbursement for repairs on the Medigadda, Sundilla, and Annaram barrages. These repairs are based on recommendations from the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA).
According to the contractors, testing the barrages alone will cost nearly ₹40 crore—an amount they want the government to pay. Dr. Harish Babu called this request proof of the government’s failure to manage the situation effectively.
He criticized the contradiction in the government’s stance. On one side, the Chief Minister and Irrigation Minister promise to remove corruption and recover public funds. On the other, the same government may end up paying for the damage instead of holding contractors accountable.
Reports show that the final bill for work at Annaram and Sundilla is ₹176 crore. One contractor is demanding an additional ₹4.5 crore for work done under NDSA guidelines, along with a ₹43 crore bank guarantee.
Dr. Harish Babu warned that if the government pays all restoration costs without investigating the corruption, it will place a heavy financial burden on the people. He revealed that repairs to the seventh block of Kaleshwaram and restoration of the Sundilla and Annaram barrages could cost another ₹10,000 crore.
He also noted that the final payment for the Medigadda Barrage is still pending. He urged the government not to release the funds until the entire restoration is completed and accountability is ensured.
The Irrigation Department currently spends about ₹16,000 crore every year just on loan repayments and interest. Dr. Harish Babu warned that if the state takes on the extra burden of Kaleshwaram repairs, it could push Telangana toward bankruptcy.
He ended by demanding action. “The government must investigate the corruption in Kaleshwaram,” he said. “They should recover the money from the contractors and the leaders of the previous government responsible for this mess.”
