BRS accuses Congress of restricting Musi public hearing

Hyderabad: The BRS on Wednesday accused the Congress government of turning the public hearing on the Musi Riverfront Development Project into a private hearing. The party said its representatives were placed under house arrest and prevented from participating, while the government failed to address concerns over displacement, rehabilitation and alleged irregularities.

The BRS declared that it would oppose forced acquisition or demolition of houses without safeguards and rehabilitation, and vowed to continue its protest on behalf of affected residents.

Speaking to the media, LB Nagar MLA D Sudheer Reddy said the BRS was not opposed to Musi rejuvenation but objected to the government’s approach. He pointed out that the government was using undemocratic methods and threatening poor families with displacement without adequate rehabilitation. He questioned how the proposed buffer zone was expanded from 50 metres to 500 metres and why tenders were invited without a DPR or estimates.

The BRS MLA said the project cost had escalated from the Rs 25,000 crore proposed under the previous BRS government to Rs 1.5 lakh crore under the Congress regime. He stated that the earlier plan sought to protect nearly 10,000 houses in the buffer zone and considered alternatives, including an elevated corridor. In contrast, the Revanth Reddy government was taking up large-scale demolitions.

“Revanth Reddy is keeping Kannepalli pumps idle as it is part of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme constructed by former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao. But he is keen to lift water from Mallanna Sagar which is also part of Kaleshwaram project for the Musi river rejuvenation,” he said, criticising the Chief Minister for his contrasting approach.

MLC Dasoju Sravan accused the government of selectively allowing participation in the hearing, pointing out that Rajendranagar MLA T Prakash Goud was welcomed while Sudheer Reddy was stopped. Terming the hearing unlawful, he questioned proceeding without disclosing the DPR and obtaining environmental clearances.

The BRS leaders alleged that the project was being pursued for real estate interests and commissions. They also criticised the government for prioritising the riverfront project amid the El Nino crisis, despite drought concerns and drinking water shortages.

Further, they demanded that the government publish the comprehensive detailed project report (DPR), project estimates and details of the proposed works, explain the expansion of the buffer zone and the tendering process, and obtain the necessary environmental clearances before conducting public hearings.