BJP alleges forced demolitions along Musi River, seeks halt

Metro India News | Hyderabad 

Asserting that "development should not be carried out on the tears of the people", the Telangana BJP on Thursday launched a visit to assess and understand the plight of families who allegedly lost their homes along the banks of the Musi River flowing through the heart of capital city.

The visit, titled “Musi Gosa – BJP Bharosa” (Musi suffering – BJP assurance), a fact-finding visit aimed to extend support to families who claim they lost their houses under the Gandhi Sarovar Project initiated by the Congress-led government under Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy. BJP alleged large-scale injustices in the ongoing Musi Riverfront works and assuring support to affected families.

State BJP president N. Ramchander Rao began the tour at Bapu Ghat after paying tributes to Mahatma Gandhi, and visited several localities along the Musi river to interact with residents. He alleged that hundreds of houses were demolished as part of the Musi Riverfront Development and the proposed Gandhi Sarovar project under the Congress government.

Addressing the media, Rao demanded an immediate halt to the “forced demolitions”, stating that development should not come at the cost of the poor. He clarified that the BJP is not against Musi beautification but insisted that cleaning the river and preventing industrial and sewage discharge must precede expansion of buffer zones.

Citing Gujarat’s Sardar Sarovar Dam as an example of scientific development, Rao said poor families should not be displaced in the name of progress. He also asserted that the project is solely a State initiative and not backed by the Centre.

The BJP vowed to continue its agitation until affected families receive justice, with residents in several colonies expressing fear and anguish over losing their homes. The BJP leader visited various areas, including  Madhu Park Ridge Apartments, lands and apartments near Lotus National School and Aditya Enclave. During the interactions the victims expressed deep distress over losing their homes in the name of Musi Riverfront project. Families pour out their grievances, many break down in tears while sharing their plight and women and the elderly are feared at the prospect of losing their shelter.