The Telangana Legislative Assembly saw sharp exchanges on Friday as discussions on the Musi River rejuvenation project and the proposed restructuring of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) triggered a walkout by the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), even as the House cleared all government bills, as per the Siasat TV.
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy laid out plans for a large-scale redevelopment of the Musi, proposing a 55-kilometre riverfront stretch from Gandipet to Gaurrelli. He said Godavari water would be diverted to Gandipet within two years and assured that details of the first phase of the project would be made public by Sankranti.
Drawing comparisons with riverfront projects in cities such as London, Singapore and Seoul, the Chief Minister said the proposal also included an elevated corridor running along the river as part of the rejuvenation effort. He noted that the Musi, which rises in the Ananthagiri hills and merges with the Krishna at Wadapally, has historically been central to Hyderabad’s water supply, with infrastructure dating back to the Nizam era still in use.
Opposition members raised concerns over the scale and impact of the project. BRS MLA T. Harish Rao questioned the projected expenditure and sought clarity on whether riverfront development would lead to demolition of homes. He cautioned that the party would oppose any move that displaced poor residents, arguing that available vacant land along the river should be prioritised.
AIMIM MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi focused on environmental and heritage issues, calling for protection of historic sites and sensitive ecological zones along the Musi. Referring to the river’s status among the most polluted globally, he urged a scientific assessment of sewage inflows and reservoir catchment areas. He also sought safeguards for Osmania General Hospital, the Charminar precinct and bird habitats in the river corridor.
