Hyderabad: BRS Legislature Party Deputy Floor Leader Harish Rao on Sunday levelled fresh Musi Riverfront Project allegations, accusing the state government of advancing a real estate agenda under the guise of river cleanup.
Harish Rao, along with BRS MLAs Sabitha Indra Reddy, Sudheer Reddy and Madhavaram Krishna Rao, as well as Rajendranagar BRS in-charge Karthik Reddy, met families of Madhu Park Apartments who are facing eviction notices. He said authorities were forcing middle-class residents to vacate their homes in the name of the Musi Riverfront Project.
Speaking to the media, he claimed the project lacked a clear policy framework. He alleged that there was no Detailed Project Report, no finalisation of the Full Tank Level and no environmental clearances or social impact assessment. Yet, eviction notices were being served, he said, and questioned the legal basis for the action.
BRS intensifies Musi Riverfront Project allegations over evictions
Recalling the previous BRS government’s approach, Harish Rao said the earlier administration had focused on cleaning the Musi by constructing Sewage Treatment Plants and preparing DPRs to bring Godavari water into the river. He claimed that the earlier plan aimed to improve Hyderabad’s image without displacing a single family.
He further alleged that major decisions of the present Chief Minister were driven by land deals. From alleged attempts to take over Central University land to converting Pharma City into a “Fourth City”, he said the pattern pointed to a larger real estate design. According to him, the Musi Riverfront Project allegations reflected concerns that prime land would be handed to private interests.
The BRS leader questioned the government’s priorities. He asked how funds were unavailable for fee reimbursement, pensions for retired employees and Rythu Bandhu payments, while large sums were allocated for camp offices, events and contractors.
He clarified that BRS was not opposed to cleaning and rejuvenating the Musi river. However, he said the party would resist demolition of poor and middle-class homes in the name of development. “Build STPs, stop sewage inflow, use Godavari water to clean the river. But do not destroy people’s lives and lifelong dreams,” he said.