Residents plead with KTR for support against Musi Riverfront demolitions

During a visit by BRS working president KTR on Tuesday, the affected families expressed their grievances, seeking his support in their struggle against the Cong government's plans to evict them from their homes

Hyderabad: The residents of Ambedkar Nagar, Annapurna Nagar, New Tulasiram Nagar, and surrounding areas in Golnaka of Amberpet constituency, voiced their anguish over the impending demolition of their homes as part of the Musi Riverfront Development Project. During a visit by BRS working president KT Rama Rao on Tuesday, the affected families expressed their grievances, seeking his support in their struggle against the Congress government’s plans to evict them from their homes.

Sumathi, a resident of Ambedkar Nagar, informed that the area was not a slum but a close-knit community. “This locality consists largely of Pahani Patta lands, divided into small residential plots over decades. We have lived here peacefully for 30-35 years, investing all our life savings in building these homes. Now, the Congress government is trying to take away what we earned through hard work, offering double-bedroom houses as if we depend on them. We are tax-paying citizens, not encroachers,” she stated.

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Qamar, a resident of New Tulasiram Nagar, echoed similar concerns. “I bought my 200-square-yard plot decades ago. We neither encroached on this land nor received it for free. We pay our taxes and bills regularly, and we won’t be intimidated by this government’s tactics,” he said.

Uma, another resident of New Tulasiram Nagar, has lived in the area for 40 years. She questioned the government’s motives, contrasting the current situation with the actions of former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao, who built double-bedroom homes for those without shelter. “Revanth Reddy wants to take away our hard-earned homes and force us into living in double-bedroom houses that we never asked for. Let them give it to those who don’t own a house,” she lamented.

Lakshmi of Ambedkar Nagar shared similar sentiments, stating that while no houses had been officially marked for demolition, officials were creating panic situation in the area by regularly visiting them in the name of surveys. “We are not sure whether they are conducting any survey, but are definitely creating a panic stating that our houses will be demolished and advising us to shift elsewhere. Most of us are hardworking and illiterate; we don’t understand why we are being targeted,” she said.

Another resident Ratna said residents were fearing for their future as the officials were trying to portray them as illegal encroachers. “None of us are encroachers, but the constant surveys are unsettling our lives,” she said.