Musi Riverfront Project victims share fears of losing homes & dreams with BRS leaders

Families who had invested their lifetime savings into buying homes were now facing the terrifying prospect of losing everything.

Hyderabad: The victims of the Musi Riverfront Development Project opened their homes to BRS leaders on Sunday, pouring out their hearts and fears, and on how they were spending sleepless nights worrying about losing their life savings. Families who had invested their lifetime savings into buying homes were now facing the terrifying prospect of losing everything.

Saritha, a nine-month pregnant woman from Hydershakote, has barely slept for weeks. With her husband serving in the army, she wakes up in panic at the sound of any passing lorry, fearing it to be a bulldozer. “We sold all properties in our native place, emptied our savings, and took a loan to buy this house. Our EMIs stretch till 2048, and now our future looks blank. We don’t need beautification; we live near nature. All we want is to secure our home,” she said, choking back tears. ri

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Dhanalaxmi, a central government employee, shared similar despair. “Of the 383 houses in our colony, 148 are marked to be in the buffer zone of Musi River. We took loans, we invested every penny we had. Now, we live in fear, every single day,” she said.

The president of Sri Venkateshwara Colony Residents Welfare Association echoed these sentiments, pointing out the injustice. “We paid registration fees, property taxes, and all other charges to the government which shamelessly collected them and now, declaring our properties as illegal. If our homes are demolished, who will pay our EMIs? Why would we build homes only to live in double-bedroom flats?” he said.

Chandu, a retired army officer, is devastated. “I have worked for 20 years in the army, invested my savings, and took a Rs 30 lakh loan to purchase this house. Our homes have been marked as ‘buffer zone.’ We have not gone to work for last seven days because we cannot comprehend when they will demolish our house,” he said, pointing out that despite defending the country for 20 years, his home was not safe.

For many, like Hasan from Vishalnagar, this isn’t just about losing property – it is about shattering a lifetime of dreams. “This government lasts five years, but a home is a lifetime dream for everyone. How can you shatter that with just one decision? By taking away our homes, you are wiping out the savings of an entire generation,” he said.