Kanuru Lakshmana Rao (15 July 1902 – 18 May 1986) was an Indian Civil engineer and a Padma Bhushan awardee[4] who served as the Union Minister of Irrigation & Power and Member of Parliament for Vijayawada from 1962 to 1977.

Rao was born in a Telugu Niyogi brahmin family in Kankipadu, Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh.

He lost vision in one eye due to injury during childhood days while playing at school.

[6] He was vice-president of International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (Asia) in 1957–61 and in 1961–65.

On 20 July 1963, Rao was sworn in as a minister for Irrigation and Electricity in the union government.

Under his regime as union minister for water resources, Rao designed many irrigation and hydro-electric projects.