What KCR government did for Musi River rejuvenation

The BRS government prioritised poor families by ensuring that no one was displaced during the river clean-up and development, said BRS working president KT Rama Rao

Hyderabad: BRS working president KT Rama Rao said serious efforts were made to rejuvenate Musi River, a lifeline for ersthwile Nalgonda district, under the leadership of former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao. However, the project was scaled down following orders from Chandrashekhar Rao to prevent unnecessary displacement.

Speaking to mediapersons at Telangana Bhavan on Friday, Rama Rao criticised the previous Congress and the TDP governments for allowing encroachments and mishandling the river’s course. He said numerous industries were allowed to release affluents into the river. He pointed out that even Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy approved for establishment of the Indian Navy’s VLF radar station in Damagundam forest of Vikarabad district which is the origin point of Musi River.

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“Musi River was neglected for decades in erstwhile Andhra Pradesh. But after the State formation, the BRS government initiated the Musi Riverfront Development Corporation in 2017, committing Rs 16,000 crore for Musi’s beautification and restoration, including an express highway from East to West,” he said.

Accordingly, the BRS government prioritised poor families by ensuring that no one was displaced during the river clean-up and development. “Under KCR’s leadership, 100 per cent sewage treatment capacity was achieved through installation of 31 STPs (Sewage Treatment Plants), ensuring clean water for Nalgonda,” he said.

Rama Rao revealed that the government had allocated Rs 500 crore for bridges and check dams on Musi River, besides tourism spots. The government planned to connect Godavari water to Gandipet with an additional Rs 1,100 crore. A 5 km stretch in Nagole and Uppal Bhagayat also has been developed as part of beautification. “To prevent flooding, the then BRS government spent another Rs 1,000 crore to improve drainage system under Strategic Nala Development Programme (SNDP),” he added.

Responding to a question, the BRS working president admitted that orders to hand over around 2,900 acres were issued by the previous BRS government in 2017, but land was not handed over after environmentalists, people and others opposed it. He said similarly, the then BRS government shelved plans to take up road development at KBR Park as people opposed it.