KTR accuses Congress of using Musi Riverfront project as cover for land grabbing

Working president of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and former minister for urban development K.T. Rama Rao alleged that the Congress government’s proposed Musi Riverfront project is not a genuine initiative for the beautification of the Musi riverfront but a massive land-grab scheme targeting valuable lands along the river course.

Speaking at a programme on “Musi Rejuvenation – PowerPoint Presentation Vs Public Point” held at Himayath Sagar on Saturday, he said the Musi could be developed without causing harm to the public. He recalled that the previous BRS government had developed nearly six kilometres of the Musi river stretch in Uppal and Nagole successfully without demolishing a single house.

The previous government had prepared a comprehensive Musi development plan with an estimated cost of ₹16,000 crore, which included an expressway along the river and several infrastructure improvements. However, the present government led by A. Revanth Reddy had proposed a project worth ₹1.5 lakh crore, which he alleged was aimed at demolishing thousands of homes and facilitating large-scale corruption.

He criticised the government for moving ahead with the project without a Detailed Project Report (DPR), Social Impact Assessment, or Environmental Impact Study and without conducting consultations with the affected communities. The government was spreading fear among thousands of residents by threatening large-scale demolitions.

The BRS leader stated that their party was not opposed to Musi development but would strongly resist any attempts to carry out corruption or demolish people’s homes in the name of the project. He alleged that the government’s real intention was to acquire around 3,300 acres of land along the Musi, whose total value was estimated at nearly ₹1.5 lakh crore.

He remarked that if the Namami Gange project, which covers hundreds of kilometres, was executed with a cost of around ₹42,000 crore, the State Government must explain why ₹1.5 lakh crore was needed for developing just 55 kilometres of the Musi river. He accused the Congress party of historically neglecting the Musi river and turning it into a polluted drain during decades of its rule.

Demanding that the Congress leadership apologise to the people of Hyderabad for the environmental damage caused in the past, the BRS working president highlighted the BRS government’s approach and explained that they had planned several measures such as construction of sewage treatment plants (STPs), expressways, walkways, cycling tracks, parks, bridges and check dams along with initiatives to prevent sewage from entering the river.

They had also planned to bring fresh water into the Musi through the Kaleshwaram project with an estimated cost of around ₹1,100 crore, he noted. BRS Whip K.P. Vivekananda Goud, former minister P. Sabitha Indra Reddy, MLA B. Laxma Reddy, MLC Shambipur Raju, former Legislative Council Chairman K. Swamy Goud, R.S. Praveen Kumar and others attended.