TRLD demands a reality check on Musi Project

metro india news  I hyderabad

A roundtable meeting on the proposed Musi River project and related issues was held at Hotel Central Court, Lakdikapul, under the chairmanship of Telangana Rashtriya Lok Dal (TRLD) president Kapilavai Dileep Kumar. The meeting brought together political leaders, academicians, former public representatives, social activists and experts, who discussed various aspects of the Musi project, including rehabilitation of displaced families, environmental restoration, public consultation and financial feasibility.

Former Governor Bandaru Dattatreya, MP Eatala Rajender, MLC Takellapalli Ravinder and Professor Haragopal attended the meeting as chief guests and addressed the gathering. Former TRICOR Chairman Bellayya Naik, Professor Madabhushi Sridhar, Professor Kathi Venkataswamy, Mannaram Nagaraju, Karnati Manohar, former MLA Varnala Sriramulu and former MBC Chairman Taduri Srinivas were among those who participated.

Addressing the meeting, MLC Takellapalli Ravinder questioned how the State government could execute a project estimated to cost around Rs 1.5 lakh crore when it was allegedly struggling to pay salaries and pensions on time. He sought clarity on the financial viability of the project before its implementation. Professor Haragopal said no public hearing had been conducted for the Musi project and questioned how the displaced families could trust the government without such a transparent process. He stressed that people likely to be affected by the project should be consulted before any major decisions were taken.

Professor Madabhushi Sridhar said that while village deities remained, traditional water bodies such as tanks and bunds had gradually disappeared. He observed that the Musi River, which once flowed with floodwaters, had now turned into a polluted drain due to years of neglect and contamination. Former MBC Chairman Taduri Srinivas called for the establishment of a large number of sewage treatment plants (STPs) and urged the government to ensure that industrial effluents were not discharged into rivers. He said preventing pollution should be the first priority in the effort to revive the Musi.

Mannaram Nagaraju proposed that 103 acres of the Malakpet Race Course land in central Hyderabad be allocated for the rehabilitation of families displaced by the Musi project. He suggested constructing vertical residential structures on the land so that all affected families could be rehabilitated at one location. Former MLA Varnala Sriramulu said that while everyone welcomed the objective of rejuvenating the Musi River, it would be difficult to discuss the project's feasibility in the absence of a Detailed Project Report (DPR). He called for greater transparency before moving ahead with implementation.

Former TRICOR Chairman Bellayya Naik said the project should not be taken up on the ground unless proper rehabilitation and adequate compensation were provided to all displaced families. He stressed that no one should lose their homes without being assured of a secure future. Professor Kathi Venkataswamy said all the suggestions and opinions expressed by experts during the roundtable meeting would be compiled and submitted to the Chief Minister as a comprehensive report.

MP Eatala Rajender said several Musi project-affected families belonged to different localities in the Malkajgiri parliamentary constituency. He said the government should first resolve their grievances and ensure justice before proceeding with the Musi project or HYDRA-related initiatives. He remarked that any development that did not prioritise people's welfare would ultimately be meaningless. TRLD president Kapilavai Dileep Kumar said the government should proceed with the Musi project only after ensuring proper rehabilitation, fair compensation to displaced families and addressing the concerns raised by various public organisations and stakeholders.

Former Governor Bandaru Dattatreya recalled that during his childhood, the Musi River had water up to waist level, whereas today it carried mostly sewage and industrial waste with hardly any natural flow. He urged the government to give top priority to preventing industrial pollution, establishing additional sewage treatment plants, stopping the discharge of untreated drainage into the river, restoring the catchment area and providing rehabilitation to displaced families.

Dattatreya further stated that TRLD had recently organised discussions on the Future City project, HYDRA and the Musi rejuvenation project. He said the party would compile the views expressed by different sections of society and submit a report to the Chief Minister.

The meeting was attended by TRLD Vice-President Komatireddy Gopal Reddy, party spokesperson Beerappa, principal general secretary Vishal, secretary Omkar, principal general secretaries Narasimha Rao and Rishabh Jain, treasurer Giri Kunde, Bullet Venkanna, State Youth President Rajkumar, Warangal district president Ramprasad, Jangaon district president Sudhakar Reddy, along with other State leaders.