Despite significant public outrage over the proposed project, key questions remain unanswered, including the staggering cost escalations, the selection of a questionable international consultant through dubious procedures, and contradictory statements from Congress leaders regarding project costs and objectives.
Published Oct 24, 2024 | 3:20 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 24, 2024 | 7:15 PM
File photo of Musi River. (Wikimedia)
The Congress government must address the concerns surrounding the Musi rejuvenation, beautification, and riverfront development project.
The Musi River, which has been a witness to the historic moments of Hyderabad, is now a silent observer of the changing narratives and targets set by the ruling party.
The stench emanating from the Musi, caused by the sewage and industrial waste it carries, is now compounded by rising suspicions regarding the handling of its development, leading many to question the government’s intentions.
Despite significant public outrage over the proposed project, key questions remain unanswered, including the staggering cost escalations, the selection of a questionable international consultant through dubious procedures, and contradictory statements from Congress leaders regarding project costs and objectives.
Development is predicated on good intentions. The success of any project depends on its honesty of purpose and its utility to the public.
Unfortunately, the current approach to the Musi rejuvenation project appears disingenuous. The aggressive push for this multi-crore project reflects a pattern in the Congress party’s functioning that raises eyebrows.
With the project cost inflated to an astounding ₹1.5 lakh crore and the inclusion of dubious private consultants, the government’s true motivations have been exposed. It has become evident that this project may serve purposes aligned with political interests rather than focusing on the public good.
Concerns have escalated due to repeated cost hikes, misrepresented facts, and shifting project goals, leading to widespread public scepticism regarding the genuine intentions behind the Musi beautification initiative.
Many now believe there might be ulterior motives at play, as the project seems increasingly oriented toward real estate development rather than true rejuvenation.
The Congress government owes the public an explanation for disregarding the original, cost-effective plan proposed by the BRS government for the Musi rejuvenation project. This revised plan has led to alarming proposals to displace countless families in the name of riverfront development.
Ironically, while Congress at the national level opposes the BJP’s “bulldozer raj,” the Telangana Congress has adopted a similar approach, demolishing homes under the pretext of encroachment removal.
The BRS government initially estimated the Musi rejuvenation project at around ₹16,800 crore. Its primary focus was to treat the water flowing through nalas (sewerage) before it reached the Musi.
This plan included establishing 31 sewage treatment plants (STPs) capable of processing 1,200 million litres per day (MLD) for ₹3,886 crore.
Many of these facilities were already operational or nearing completion. The BRS government also launched the Strategic Nala Development Programme (SNDP). Continuing with the original project would have revived the Musi at a much lower cost and without the need for demolishing homes.
The ultimate goal was to rejuvenate and conserve the Musi River corridor, stretching 57.5 kilometres, by revitalizing its environment and creating vibrant community spaces.
The plan included ensuring a steady flow of water and improving water quality. A Detailed Project Report (DPR) with a budget of ₹1,100 crore was approved to bring water from Konda Pochamma Sagar to keep the Musi River flowing, which had been stopped by the Congress government.
There is currently no clarity regarding the project’s goals, nor is there an explanation for ignoring seven years’ worth of progress made by the BRS government in this regard.
The enormous escalation of costs to ₹1.5 lakh crore for just a 55-kilometer stretch of riverfront is inexplicable, especially when compared to larger projects in India completed at a fraction of this proposed budget.
For instance, the Sabarmati Riverfront project was completed for ₹7,000 crore, while the Namami Ganga initiative, covering 2,500 kilometres, carries an estimated cost of only ₹40,000 crore.
The rationale behind repeatedly revising the proposed cost from an initial ₹50,000 crore to ₹70,000 crore, and finally to ₹1.5 lakh crore, without presenting a detailed project report, remains unclear.
The selection of the Singapore-based consultancy, Meinhardt Singapore Pvt Ltd, for preparing the master plan has also raised doubts.
Tenders originally called for by the Musi Riverfront Development Corporation (MRDCL) in February were cancelled in August, only to be reissued within a week under altered rules—a move that has raised serious doubts about the government’s transparency and motives.
If the government is genuinely committed to rejuvenating the Musi, it should prioritize the flow of treated water in the river, relocate pharmaceutical companies to the proposed Pharma City, and address industrial waste before it contaminates Hussain Sagar, Himayat Sagar, Osman Sagar, and the Musi itself.
Additionally, the focus should be on constructing high-quality riverbanks to ensure public safety rather than resorting to demolitions that threaten livelihoods.
The Congress government must improve upon the 2013 Land Acquisition Act and provide alternative housing and compensation in accordance with this legislation laid out during the UPA government’s tenure.
(T Harish Rao is a BRS MLA from Telangana and former minister for legislative affairs. Views are personal. Edited by Sumavarsha Kandula)
