Telangana Minister D. Sridhar Babu Defends Musi River Rejuvenation Project Amid Political Criticism
Hyderabad: Telangana Industries and IT Minister D. Sridhar Babu recently asserted that the Musi River rejuvenation project was initiated under the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government, defending its significance amidst ongoing political controversy.
In a press conference held on October 1, Babu criticized the BRS for allegedly politicizing the project and inciting public unrest. He emphasized the importance of beautifying the Musi River and addressing the illegal structures along its banks.
Babu outlined the historical context of the project, noting that the BRS government established the Musi River Front Corporation in 2017. He highlighted that a government order (GO 90), issued on March 25, 2017, recognized the severe pollution affecting the river and called for its cleanup. “Meetings were held in 2018 to discuss project implementation, including identifying encroachments and establishing a buffer zone,” he explained.
The minister also referenced several meetings convened by Municipal Administration Minister K.T. Rama Rao (KTR) to tackle these challenges. In June 2021, further directives were issued to address illegal constructions, along with rehabilitation plans for families affected by the project, which included proposals for double-bedroom homes.
A comprehensive survey was conducted across three districts, identifying a 50-meter buffer zone along the riverbanks, a crucial step in the project’s planning and execution.
Babu accused the BRS of obstructing the government’s efforts to enhance Hyderabad’s beauty and provide clean drinking water to residents in the Musi catchment areas. He criticized BRS leaders for their attempts to politicize the Musi rejuvenation initiative, arguing that they seem to oppose the current government’s actions while taking credit for similar efforts in the past.
He further questioned the BRS’s commitment to the river’s restoration, asking rhetorically who had even called for the cleaning of the Musi River, and pointing out the previous government’s lack of compassion towards those displaced by projects like Kaleshwaram and Mallanna Sagar.
In closing, Babu reminded BRS leaders of the High Court’s stance when they proposed a new government order that overlooked the provisions of the 2013 Land Acquisition Act, signaling that accountability and adherence to regulations must remain paramount in the ongoing discussions surrounding the Musi River project.
