Victims of Musi Riverfront project slam government for demolitions
The residents, many of whom have lived in their homes for decades, expressed their frustration at being labeled as encroachers despite having valid approvals and registrations.
Hyderabad: As the State government continued to move ahead with the Musi Riverfront Development Project, thousands of residents from the river’s buffer zone are grappling with the fear of losing their homes. Residents shared their anger and sorrow on Monday with BRS working president KT Rama Rao, who visited several residential areas of Hyderguda and Kishanbagh in Rajendranagar constituency, accusing the government of recklessness in handling the project and failing to consider the impact on affected families.
The residents, many of whom have lived in their homes for decades, expressed their frustration at being labeled as encroachers despite having valid approvals and registrations. Mateti Prabhakar, treasurer of the Laxminagar Colony Residents Welfare Association, questioned the logic of the government’s actions.
“We have two parks here, with the electricity and GHMC departments providing power and maintenance funds. Doesn’t this mean the area is approved? How can we afford new properties when we bought these homes years ago for lakhs, and now the prices are in crores?” he asked.
Sriramulu from Nandanavanam Apartments shared a similar ordeal, recalling how their land was registered in 1966 and given for construction of apartments. “Officials surveyed and placed markers 95 feet away from the Musi River, and our apartment is even further, yet now they claim it falls under the buffer zone,” he said.
For Renuka, a resident of Bharatnagar Colony in Attapur, the situation is unbearable. “We are out on the streets fighting for our homes, yet Ministers accuse us of being funded by the opposition. If they cannot stand with us, they should remain silent. Our families live in constant fear of losing our homes without warning,” she told Rama Rao.
Narasimha from Laxminagar added: “We have lived here for 56 years, with no objections from officials when we sought permissions for development. Even Revanth Reddy was involved in real estate projects here. Why would he build apartments if this area is a buffer zone?”
Trinadh, an employee, revealed his own plight. “Revanth Reddy became the Chief Minister on December 7 last year, we got building approval on January 14 this year. We occupied our new house recently, just 15 days before officials arrived, claiming it was in the buffer zone. How could we have known? No authority objected during registration, nor did the banks when they approved loans. They should have placed boards stating that this is buffer zone,” he said.
For many, like Laxmi from Vigneswara Colony, the situation is devastating. “We invested our life savings into this house, to create an asset for our children. Me and my husband go to office, by placing our two children aged three and five in a daycare only to provide them a better living. In the name of beautification, the Revanth Reddy government is trying to build a graveyard on the ruins of our homes,” she said.
“The officials are threatening us to vacate, but why should we leave our homes when they are legitimate?” asked Chandrakala from Pardhiwadi in Puranapul, whose family has lived in their home for generations.
The residents are pleading with the government to halt the demolitions and to reconsider the project’s impact on their lives. Rama Rao vowed to stand by the victims, criticising the Congress government’s handling of the project and promising to fight for justice, even if it meant taking the issue to the Supreme Court.
