Hyderabad October 3, 2024 :- Chief Minister Revanth Reddy reaffirmed today that the Musi Riverfront Development Project will be completed under all circumstances, denying any political motives behind it. He emphasized that the project was initiated with a vision for the future and the greater good. During his speech, Reddy accused the BRS party of misleading the public to protect their illegal farmhouses, stating that they have stooped to low-level politics for their personal gain.
Addressing a gathering at the Digital Health Card Pilot Launch event, the CM stated, “The Musi river cleanup is essential to combat pollution, and its preservation is crucial.” He highlighted that the project is aimed at securing a better future for Hyderabad, where untreated sewage from the Musi River has been contaminating agricultural lands in Nalgonda and surrounding areas.
In his address, Revanth Reddy revealed that the government has already allocated 1,500 2BHK homes for those affected by the project and has provided financial assistance of ₹25,000 per family. He further accused prominent BRS leaders, including KT Rama Rao, Harish Rao, and Sabitha Indra Reddy, of politicizing the issue to safeguard their illegal farmhouses under the guise of supporting the poor.
CM Revanth Reddy also criticized BJP MP Etala Rajender during his speech. He alleged that Rajender often parrots BRS press releases in front of the media, especially remarks made by KTR and Harish Rao. Reddy challenged Rajender to visit the Secretariat and work together, saying, “If you have any proposals, let’s go to Delhi together and bring some budget allocations for the state from Prime Minister Modi.”
Despite the government’s efforts, there remains discontent among those displaced by the project. Many have voiced concerns over the manner in which the evacuations were carried out. One resident remarked, “Cleaning the Musi was necessary, but the way the government forced people to vacate their homes wasn’t right. The government should have taken us into confidence before asking us to leave.”
Several families have already moved into the 2BHK apartments provided, but there are ongoing complaints, especially from larger families. One resident said, “There are eight to ten people in our family. How can we all live in a 2BHK apartment?”
A particularly poignant case involves a family with four brothers and a handicapped sister. The sister was given a 2BHK unit, but the brothers, who take care of her, were not allocated one. Their original house, which was on a 150-square-yard plot, was demolished, and they are still waiting for a resolution.
Other complaints include the high cost of relocating furniture, with laborers and truck drivers demanding ₹6,000 to move goods to the 9th floor of the new apartments. Residents have also reported frequent power outages and water shortages in the newly built 2BHK apartments.
While these 2BHK homes were initially built by the previous BRS government, the current Congress-led administration has demolished houses along the Musi riverbed to make way for the project, allotting these apartments to affected families. However, many unresolved issues persist, and the government is urged to address them beyond just the allotment of homes.
The residents hope that the government continues to support them in the long term, fulfilling their rightful demands and addressing the challenges they face in their new accommodations.
