Women and transgender groups support Musi riverbank residents against Gandhi Sarovar Project

Women and Transgenders Organizations Joint Action Committee expressed support for women living along the Musi river banks affected by the Musi Riverfront Development Project. The group criticised exemption from Social Impact Assessment and urged the government to hear concerns of affected communities.

Hyderabad: Women and Transgenders Organizations Joint Action Committee (WT-JAC) on Thursday declared support for women living along the Musi river banks, including those from working-class communities and middle-income localities affected by the Musi Riverfront Development Project linked to the Gandhi Sarovar Project.

In a press release, WT-JAC said that they would intensify the resistance if the State government stubbornly plans to go ahead with the Musi Project without heeding the demands of the affected communities, especially women.

---

WT-JAC said that over the past few months, multiple notifications for land acquisition for the project were issued, which it described as extremely problematic as they exempted the entire project from Social Impact Assessment (SIA).

“The fact that the government thinks a project of this scale does not need SIA reflects its utter lack of concern for thousands of women and poor people who would face the disproportionate brunt of the project,” WT-JAC said.

It urged the Chief Minister, A Revanth Reddy, to ensure that the State Assembly repeals the 2017 LARR amendments immediately, that the Social Impact Assessment is not bypassed and that women and marginalised communities are fully heard before the government proceeds with its questionable ‘development’ plans and projects.