The padayatra aims to build public support for a project converting the Musi River into a clean, perennial water source by diverting Godavari water from the Mallanna Sagar project to Osman Sagar reservoir
Published Nov 07, 2024 | 4:42 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 07, 2024 | 4:42 PM
Revanth Reddy to launch Padayatra on 8 November, seeking support for Musi Project
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy will undertake a padayatra for six km along the Musi river bank in Nalgonda district on Friday, 8 November, despite the gathering storm against the Musi Rejuvenation Project.
The chief minister is determined to go ahead with the project, notwithstanding the BRS’ allegation that the project was a major scam in the making.
The chief minister who will arrive in Yadadri along with family members on Friday morning on the occasion of his birthday, will first offer prayers at Sri Lakshmi Narasimhaswamy Temple. After a brief review of the works going at the temple, he will undertake his padayatra at about 1 p.m. from Sangem in Valigonda mandal in Nalgonda district.
The chief minister is expected to interact with farmers in Musi catchment area at Bhimalingam and Dharma Reddy canals. He will enquire about the problems they are facing because of the highly polluted Musi River. The chief minister will explain to the famers how the Musi Rejuvenation Project will help in making the water fit for irrigation purposes.
The chief minister has already announced that a consortium of companies of international repute – Meinhardt, RIOS, Cushman & Wakefield, SOM – has been entrusted with the responsibility of preparing the design and model for the project. The first phase of the project will be taken up between Bapu Ghat where Esa joins the Musi till Osman Sagar for a distance of 21 km.
The purpose of the padayatra is to rouse public opinion in favour of the project which is intended to convert the Musi which stinks like a skunk into a perennial river of clean water by diverting Godavari water from Mallanna Sagar project to Osman Sagar reservoir on the river.
The chief minister has promised the Musi river bank dwellers that they would be provided a much better accommodation along with means of livelihood to them even as the BRS alleged that Revanth Reddy was eager to make money from the project and that was the reason he was in a tearing hurry to evict the dwellers from their houses.
Revanth Reddy had even invited Opposition leader K Chandrasekhar Rao to give his suggestions on the Musi Project but the BRS chose not to. On the other hand, BRS has been attacking the chief minister that the Rs.1.5 lakh crore Musi project is a major scam, the diversion of Godavari river waters to Osman Sagar to make Musi a perennial river at a cost of Rs. 5,500 crore, is yet another scam in the works.
(Edited by Ananya Rao)
