BRS targets Congress over Hyderabad's Musi river project

Telangana's opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi has accused the ruling Congress of misleading the state on its flagship Musi river project. The government has been accused of planning massive dredging along the banks of Musi river in Hyderabad to benefit real estate giants. The party has demanded that the government “show transparency on the DPR or face a privilege motion in the Assembly”.

Speaking in the state assembly today, BRS leader K. Kavitha – daughter of former Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao – presented the documents, which she claimed exposed the “deception” of the Congress.

The massive Rs 50,000 crore project aims to beautify the banks of the Musi river flowing through Hyderabad and develop it on the lines of Gujarat's Sabarmati River Project. The idea is to transform the 110 sq km area by introducing recreational areas, public plazas, children's theme parks and entertainment centres.

But Ms Kavitha claimed it would displace about 16,000 families and, instead of focusing on ecology, would create a concrete jungle that would house commercial enterprises including malls.

Worse, it will add another formidable World Bank loan onto the state's existing financial burden. He said that the government is trying to snatch land from the poor and mortgage it to the World Bank.
He said, this is why Congress is misleading everyone about its real objectives regarding this project.

Ms Kavita claimed that the Congress government has sent the DPR (Detailed Project Report) proposal to the World Bank on September 19. He said, the Revanth Reddy government had passed an order appointing a consultant for the DPR on October 4, yet it has denied its presence. Then on December 17, he denied the existence of DPR in the Assembly.

“A loan of Rs 1.28 lakh crore has already been secured – why is Congress asking for a loan of Rs 4,100 crore from the World Bank? Is Chief Minister Revanth Reddy mortgaging Telangana's future for a foreign loan?”. He said.

He said that the Congress government has betrayed the people of Telangana through lies and hidden agenda.