15th Finance Commission has suggested user charges on Kaleshwaram project

The 15th Finance Commission has suggested that the State should try to generate adequate revenue, “say through user charges,” to at least cover the operations and maintenance cost of Kaleshwaram project. The Kaleshwaram lift irrigation project, a flagship programme of the Telangana government taken up at an estimated ₹80,000 crore, was aimed at serving over 18 lakh acres of farmland. However, lift irrigation invariably notches up a massive electricity bill, bringing to question, the financial viability of the project in the absence of a guaranteed revenue stream. the commission pointed out stressing the need for efforts to generate adequate revenue to cover at least operations and maintenance cost of the project.