KTR accuses Revanth Reddy of double standards on Kaleshwaram
Synopsis
BRS working president KTR has accused CM Revanth Reddy of hypocrisy, alleging the Congress government plans to draw 30 million gallons daily from Mallannasagar — part of the Kaleshwaram project — even as it publicly attacks the scheme built under the previous BRS administration.
Key Takeaways
KTR posted on 17 July 2026 accusing CM Revanth Reddy of double standards over the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project .
He alleged the Congress government decided to draw 30 million gallons of water per day from Mallannasagar Reservoir to address Hyderabad 's drinking-water crisis.
Mallannasagar is a key storage reservoir within the Kaleshwaram project, which was built under the previous TRS/BRS administration starting in 2016 .
The Revanth Reddy government has previously questioned Kaleshwaram's costs and structural integrity since taking office in December 2023 .
KTR said the people of Telangana are 'watching and understanding' the Congress government's contradictory stance on the project.
Official Telangana irrigation department orders on water releases from Mallannasagar are expected to provide operational clarity.
BRS working president K. T. Rama Rao on Friday, 17 July 2026, accused Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy of hypocrisy over the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project, alleging that the Congress government is drawing drinking water from the project's Mallannasagar Reservoir even as it publicly attacks the scheme.
Context
Posting in Telugu on X, KTR stated that the Congress government in Hyderabad has decided to draw 30 million gallons of water per day from Mallannasagar Reservoir — a key storage component of the Kaleshwaram project — to address an acute drinking-water shortage caused by drought conditions. He described this as a 'double-faced act' (ద్వంద్వ ప్రవృత్తి), arguing that a government which 'spews venom on the Kaleshwaram project every day' cannot simultaneously rely on the same project to meet the state's irrigation and drinking-water needs.
'The people of Telangana are watching this and understanding it,' KTR wrote, directly addressing the Chief Minister.
Policy Backdrop
The Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project was formally launched for execution in 2016 by the then Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) government — later renamed Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) — with the stated objective of irrigating 18 lakh acres and augmenting urban water supply across the Godavari basin. Mallannasagar, located in Siddipet district, was designed as a major balancing reservoir within this multi-stage system.
Since the Congress party came to power in Telangana in December 2023, the Revanth Reddy government has questioned the project's costs, environmental clearances, and structural integrity. This has made Kaleshwaram a persistent flashpoint between the two parties, with BRS accusing the government of politicising an irrigation asset that continues to serve the state.
Stakeholders and Impact
At the centre of the dispute are Hyderabad's millions of residents, who depend on reliable drinking-water supply during drought periods. The city periodically faces acute shortages during summers and weak monsoon years, drawing on reservoirs across the state's water grid.
Telangana farmers, particularly those in districts dependent on Kaleshwaram's lift irrigation network, also have a direct stake in how the project's reservoirs are managed and whether political disputes affect operational decisions. The Telangana irrigation department's orders on daily water releases from Mallannasagar will be closely watched in the coming weeks.
What's Next
The Revanth Reddy government has not issued an immediate public response to KTR's post as of the time of publication. Official orders from the Telangana irrigation department on the quantum of daily releases from Mallannasagar and current reservoir levels during the 2026 monsoon season are expected to clarify the operational picture.
With Telangana heading into the second half of the monsoon season, the politics of water management — and who gets credit or blame for infrastructure built in the prior decade — is likely to intensify as a campaign theme for both BRS and Congress ahead of future electoral cycles.
Point of View
With each party's credibility partly tied to how the asset is perceived. By framing the alleged water draw as proof of 'double standards,' BRS is attempting to reclaim the project's legacy at a moment when the Congress government is under pressure from a drought. How the Revanth Reddy administration responds — and whether it publicly acknowledges or contests the Mallannasagar release figure — will shape the next phase of this political exchange.
NationPress
17 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project?
The Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project is a major multi-stage irrigation scheme in Telangana, launched in 2016 under the then TRS government, designed to irrigate 18 lakh acres and supply drinking water across the Godavari basin.
What is Mallannasagar Reservoir and why is it in the news?
Mallannasagar is a key storage reservoir within the Kaleshwaram project located in Siddipet district. It is in the news because BRS working president KTR alleged the Revanth Reddy government plans to draw 30 million gallons of water per day from it to address Hyderabad's drinking-water shortage.
Why is KTR accusing Revanth Reddy of hypocrisy over Kaleshwaram?
KTR alleges that the Congress government publicly criticises the Kaleshwaram project while simultaneously relying on its reservoirs for drinking water supply, which he describes as a contradictory or 'double-faced' stance.
Is Hyderabad facing a drinking water shortage in 2026?
According to KTR's post, drought conditions have led to a severe drinking-water crisis in Hyderabad, prompting the Telangana government to consider drawing water from Mallannasagar Reservoir.
What has the Revanth Reddy government said about Kaleshwaram?
Since coming to power in December 2023, the Revanth Reddy-led Congress government has questioned the Kaleshwaram project's costs, environmental clearances, and structural integrity, making it a recurring point of political contention with BRS.
