Hyderabad: The Musi River project and the HYDRA initiative aim to provide clean water and fresh air to the city, said IT Minister D Sridhar Babu on Tuesday. He explained that the current government, led by the BRS, started the Musi Riverfront Development Corporation back in 2017. Back then, Minister KT Rama Rao (KTR) had instructed officials to demolish illegal constructions along the river.
Speaking at a press conference, Sridhar Babu emphasized that the purpose of the project was to reduce pollution and develop the riverfront. He criticized some BRS leaders, saying that the same people who had once supported the project were now making irresponsible statements.
His comments come at a time when local residents are protesting against the marking of houses for demolition as part of the river beautification plan. Sridhar Babu pointed out that the government is working to determine the number of illegal constructions and encroachments that existed during the BRS regime. He added that officials have been instructed to define clear buffer zone boundaries and relocate those living in affected areas.
Sridhar Babu recalled that, in 2020, when KTR was the minister, he had already directed officials to demolish encroachments and establish the buffer zone. In subsequent meetings in 2021 and 2022, KTR repeated these instructions, even ordering that displaced persons be given double-bedroom homes.
The minister also highlighted that, as early as 2016, there were plans to build 55-meter-wide roads on both sides of the Musi River, with 50 meters designated as a buffer zone. He stressed the urgency of demolishing illegal structures to prevent future disasters, referencing a 2019 survey that warned that any flow exceeding 1.50 lakh cusecs could lead to significant loss of life.
Sridhar Babu defended the government’s actions, asking, “Is providing clean water and fresh air wrong?” He accused the BRS of playing politics and worsening the situation, noting that they had shown no compassion for those displaced by projects like Kaleshwaram and Mallanna Sagar in the past. He reassured the public that the government would take swift action if lower-level officials made mistakes and clarified that there was no intent to harm anyone.
