Musi Riverfront Development project is India’s biggest scam, says KTR

Upping the ante on his blistering attack on the Congress government, BRS working president KT Rama Rao on Monday dubbed the Musi Riverfront Development Project India’s biggest scam, stating that it was designed to funnel funds into the Congress party’s election campaigns across various States. Pointing out that Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy was orchestrating a massive Rs 1.5 lakh crore scandal under the guise of river beautification, he warned that the project’s true objective was to fund the Congress party’s assembly election campaigns.

Rama Rao cautioned the government against proceeding with demolitions without even a Detailed Project Report (DPR) or without holding consultations with the affected families.

“The Congress is attempting to turn the Musi project into their personal Reserve Bank. We had developed a comprehensive Musi rejuvenation project with a budget of Rs.16,000 crore and already completed majority of the Sewerage Treatment Plants (STPs). Now, they plan to spend Rs 1.5 lakh crore without any clear objectives or benefits,” he stated.

Speaking to mediapersons at Telangana Bhavan here on Monday, the former Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister questioned the legitimacy and transparency of the project, comparing it with other major riverfront projects like Sabarmati and the Namami Gange programme, which cost significantly less. “How can the Congress justify spending Rs.1.5 lakh crore when the Namami Gange project was undertaken at Rs.40,000 crore and Sabarmati development cost only Rs.7,000 crore?” he asked.

Rama Rao sought to know the purpose of the Musi Riverfront Development Project and its Return on Investment. He pointed out that Revanth Reddy and his Ministers were not clear whether it was a beautification, rejuvenation or riverfront development project. He stated that if the government planned to oust the poor and turn it into a real estate project, none would support.

Also ridiculing the State government for taking up such an expensive project while claiming to have no funds for public welfare and infrastructure development programmes, he slammed the government’s hypocrisy, pointing out that while officials were eager to demolish homes of the poor, they were ignoring the office of the HYDRAA commissioner at Buddha Bhavan, which was built on a nala. He reminded that the GHMC office, which gives



permissions for numerous constructions, was also situated on a nala. He dared the government to begin their demolition drive with these buildings. “If illegal structures need to be removed, why not start with your own offices?” he asked.

If the Chief Minister was so determined to safeguard water bodies, the latter must first demolish his house which was on the Reddy Kunta water body in his native village of Kondareddypally as well as of his brother whose house was in the FTL of Durgam Cheruvu.

“He should also demolish the houses and farm houses of his Ministers and other Congress leaders that were constructed within 500 metres of the twin reservoirs of Osman Sagar and Himayat Sagar against rules,” he added.

Highlighting the suffering of the people, the BRS working president pointed to the deteriorating conditions of villages and the government’s failure to deliver on its 420 election promises. “The Congress government, which promised to implement its six guarantees within 100 days, failed even after 300 days. These destruction politics using HYDRA, are only meant to divert public attention from its failed promises,” he added.

Rama Rao vowed that the BRS would stand by the people and fight for their rights, and even take the issue to the Supreme Court if necessary. “We will not remain silent while the Congress destroys the lives of the poor. If they send bulldozers, we will stand in front of them,” he declared.

Responding to a question, he said the BRS was not against conservation of Musi River, but it must be done as per law and only after duly compensating the affected families. He reminded that they were not encroachers, but tax paying citizens who constructed the houses after obtaining all permissions. He pointed out that most of these layouts were regularised and construction permissions were given during the previous Congress governments. He said till the BRS government prepared the bufferzones, full tank levels and maps of water bodies in 2016, local bodies had given permissions as per their whims.

He thanked the High Court for taking notice of the government’s “bulldozer anarchy” and praised the legal efforts of his party legal cell to protect the victims. He urged Congress leaders to reconsider their priorities and warned that attempts to suppress the poor for political gain would ultimately backfire.