Hyderabad: Musi Rejuvenation Project Gains Momentum After Legal Clearance
The Musi Rejuvenation Project in Hyderabad has started moving forward after clearing legal challenges. State officials have been instructed to accelerate the project’s implementation.
The Telangana High Court recently directed the State government to prioritize the preservation of the Musi River and other water resources in the city. This decision came after hearing 46 petitions against the demolition of houses and removal of encroachments as part of the project.
To address illegal encroachments, the government has authorized officials to issue notices to those occupying water bodies, lakes, and ponds unlawfully. Officials highlighted that the Musi River’s history dates back to 1908, when a devastating flood hit Hyderabad. In response, the then Nizam ruler, Mir Osman Ali Khan, built Osman Sagar and Himayat Sagar reservoirs and protective walls to safeguard the city from future floods.
Under the Nizam’s administration, a law called Act 8 of 1317 was introduced. This law declared public properties such as roads, rivers, ponds, canals, and bridges as government assets. Comprehensive surveys were conducted to map villages, identifying features like wells, watercourses, and houses. Despite this, over time, many water bodies and riverbeds were illegally converted into plots, sold to private individuals, and even used for constructing religious structures.
The Hyderabad Irrigation Act also emphasizes that the management, construction, and control of water resources should be handled by the government. Any construction in these areas requires explicit permission from a designated irrigation officer.
The State government has now resolved to remove illegal structures in the buffer zones, Full Tank Level (FTL) areas, and riverbed zones of the Musi River. Surveys will also be conducted to identify those affected by the revival project.
For displaced residents, the government has outlined measures to provide housing. If affected individuals possess legal documents such as patta or sikham pattas, authorities will acquire their land and compensate them according to the law. This approach aims to ensure fairness while advancing the Musi River’s restoration.
