KTR questions Congress govt on Musi project and pharma city initiative

The Musi project might be a cover for corruption, given the inconsistent cost estimates and the lack of a detailed project report (DPR) before announcing such high figures, says KTR

Hyderabad: Launching a scathing attack on the Congress government over its handling of the Musi River project and the Hyderabad Pharma City initiative, BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao on Wednesday questioned the need for the Musi River cleaning project, especially after achieving 94 percent sewage treatment in Hyderabad. It was in fact targeted to achieve 100 percent treatment during the BRS regime.

Leading a team of the party leaders, he visited the Fatehnagar Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) in Kukatpally to take stock of the work status under the Congress government. Speaking on the occasion, he criticized the government and Ministers for quoting varying and exorbitant costs for the Musi River project, ranging from Rs.50,000 crore to Rs 1.5 lakh crore. He suggested that the project might be a cover for corruption, given the inconsistent cost estimates and the lack of a detailed project report (DPR) before announcing such high figures.

Rao emphasized that the visit to the Fatehnagar STP was just the beginning, with plans to inspect all STPs under construction. The goal was to make Hyderabad a city with 100 percent treated wastewater, ensuring that only pure water flows into the Musi River. He criticized Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy for his statements about the inability to build double bedroom houses in Hyderabad. He questioned how the government could promise housing for the poor displaced by the Musi project if it couldn’t deliver on its promises.

Highlighting the BRS government’s achievements in acquiring land for the Hyderabad Pharma City, he criticized the Congress government for considering the project’s cancellation. Despite rumours of cancellation, the Congress government recently reaffirmed its commitment to the Pharma City project in court, stating that it remains intact and will continue. However, Rao accused the government of slowing down the progress of STPs and other infrastructure projects initiated by the previous administration.

Rao called on the Congress government to stop its “publicity stunts” and asked the party leadership to fulfill the promises made by it to the people, including doubling pensions, providing gold, offering Rs 2,500 assistance to women, and supporting farmers with Rythu Bharosa. He warned that the people of Hyderabad would continue to recognize the good deeds of the previous government and hold the current administration accountable for its failures.

Rao’s visit to the Fatehnagar STP was marked by an emotional moment when he recalled the words of a young girl, Vedashree, whose house was demolished by HYDRAA. He vowed to take action as per the orders of former Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao and ensure justice for the affected families. Stating that the Congress was enacting an unnecessary drama under the guise of the HYDRAA demolitions, he said the government was practising double standards.

“If you have the courage, take action against those who issued permissions and the builders who violated the rules,” he challenged Revanth Reddy, also stating that the BRS legal team would provide full support to the victims of HYDRAA demolitions.

“Contact Telangana Bhavan or reach out to your local BRS MLAs. We will fight for justice,” he said, urging the Chief Minister to prove his integrity by demolishing illegal properties belonging to Ministers and influential individuals, including his own family’s houses if found in buffer zones.

If the oppressive actions against the underprivileged continued, BRS would stand as a shield for the victims. “We will block the bulldozers if necessary,” he asserted, also calling on the judiciary to take suo moto cognizance of the government’s attempts to sideline justice and suppress the voices of the vulnerable.