Hyderabad: Senior BRS leader T. Harish Rao has responded to a challenge made by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy. The Chief Minister had dared Harish Rao to stay for three months at the Musi Riverbed. In reply, Harish Rao accused the Congress government of turning the Musi Rejuvenation project into a real estate venture that exploits the people living there.
During a press conference on Friday, Harish Rao challenged the Chief Minister to visit the Musi River without security. He urged the CM to pick a specific date and time for the visit, saying he would be ready by 9 am on Saturday. Additionally, Harish Rao expressed his willingness to visit the Mallannasagar rehabilitation colony and participate in a discussion on the issue.
Harish Rao clarified that the BRS was not against the Musi Rejuvenation project itself. However, he insisted that the government should release a detailed project report, get all necessary permissions, and compensate people living in the riverbed according to the Land Acquisition Act of 2013. This law was introduced by the UPA government and aims to protect the rights of displaced residents.
He also highlighted that the BRS government had fairly compensated people who were displaced by the Mallanna Sagar project and other similar projects, following the same Land Acquisition Act. Harish Rao emphasized the importance of ensuring that people affected by the Musi project are resettled properly and without unnecessary displacement.
