BRS MLC Kavitha questions Congress Govt over Musi Riverfront project secrecy

She said the State government, in contrast to its earlier statements, had approached the World Bank for a loan. She questioned the government's plans to displace thousands of families and mortgage the State to execute the Chief Minister's dream real estate project

Hyderabad: BRS MLC K Kavitha questioned the Congress government on inconsistencies in its statements and secrecy regarding the Musi Riverfront rejuvenation project.

She said the State government, in contrast to its earlier statements, had approached the World Bank for a loan. She questioned the government’s plans to displace thousands of families and mortgage the State to execute the Chief Minister’s dream real estate project.

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Speaking to mediapersons at the Assembly media point on Wednesday, Kavitha said Legislative Affairs Minister D Sridhar Babu provided false information, misleading the Assembly and the public about the project’s funding and intent, exposing a deliberate attempt to deceive.

“The Minister claimed that no assistance was sought from the World Bank. When I insisted of having evidence to prove him wrong, he admitted to have sent a proposal, but for sewerage interceptors project along the Musi River, which is false,” she said.

The preliminary project report, submitted on September 19, 2024, clearly outlines plans for the Musi Riverfront project and seeking Rs 4,100 crore for it where the government mentions about Musi Riverfront Development Project, but not Rejuvenation Project as was being claimed.

Highlighting the discrepancies, the BRS MLC pointed out that while the government claims no Detailed Project Report (DPR) exists, it has informed the World Bank that they have a DPR or Detailed Engineering Design (DED).

On October 4, 2024, the State government released Rs 160 crore to a consortium, comprisig Meinhart Consultancies, Cushman and Wakefield India, and RIOS Design Studios, for project preparation.

Kavitha charged Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy of attempting to mortgage the State’s resources and lands to the World Bank.

“In 10 years of BRS rule, we never sought World Bank loans to execute any government project. But within a year, the Congress government is ready to mortgage the State and displace over 16,000 families living near the Musi River,” she said.

The project, estimated to cost Rs 1.5 lakh crore, includes significant land acquisition along the 55-km stretch. The BRS leader said the Chief Minister recently submitted a report to the Centre seeking Rs 14,000 crore for the project. She warned that the plan prioritizes commercial interests, such as shopping malls and real estate, over the welfare of displaced families.

Demanding transparency, Kavitha called for an explanation on the lack of public consultation and the misleading information surrounding the project.

“This government must answer: why is there no transparency, and whose profits are being prioritised over public welfare? Why is the government giving contradictory statements to the Centre, the Legislature, the World Bank and the people of the State?” she asked.