Telangana chief minister A Revanth Reddy on Thursday challenged the opposition leaders, including Bharat Rashtra Samithi leaders K T Rama Rao and T Harish Rao and BJP leader Eatala Rajender to stay in a house on the Musi riverbank in Hyderabad to prove that it is in a liveable condition.
“It is an open offer to these opposition leaders who are strongly opposing the Musi riverfront project. Let them stay in any vacant house at the river for three months and experience the conditions there. I shall pay the rent for their houses,” Revanth Reddy said, while speaking to media.
He said if the opposition leaders still felt that the Musi river is very clean and the conditions are liveable, he would stop the Musi cleansing project.
“If there is any monetary loss to the government on account of cancellation of tenders, I shall pay from my pocket by selling my house and see that the government will not be put at loss,” he said.
The chief minister said the state's efforts regarding the Musi River go beyond beautification and represent a "rebirth" of the river.
“It is not a beautification project, but a rejuvenation project and its goal is to improve the lives of those residing along the riverbanks,” he said.
Revanth Reddy stated, "The project is not just focused on aesthetics; it’s about providing a better and dignified life for the people who have been living in the polluted surroundings of the Musi River."
He recalled how the previous BRS government had used force, torture and intimidation to evacuate people from several villages like Vemulaghat to construct Mallannasagar reservoir.
“We are not forcing people out or using police force to evacuate residents,” he stated.
He acknowledged the presence of over 16,000 houses along the river and mentioned that the government has compensated affected families with Rs 25,000 and allocated double-bedroom homes to them.
Revanth Reddy clarified that the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) has only demolished illegal constructions on lakes, not houses along the Musi River.
He also raised concerns about flooding, especially during heavy rains, and posed a question:
“Should rainwater flow into lakes and rivers, or should it flood the streets?”