With criticism mounting from various sections on HYDRAA and the controversial Musi Riverfront project, the Congress Party found itself on the defensive on Tuesday. The party moved into damage control mode, attempting to counter accusations from the ruling BRS party regarding the demolitions linked to HYDRAA and the escalating debate surrounding the Musi Riverfront project. However, these attempts appeared to backfire, further damaging the party’s image.
Congress vs BRS on Musi Riverfront Project Costs
A significant moment in the controversy came when IT Minister D Sridhar Babu raised doubts about Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s earlier claims concerning the cost of the Musi Riverfront project. Reddy had stated that the project would cost Rs 1.5 lakh crore, but Sridhar Babu contradicted this, stating that the total project cost was still uncertain. He criticized the BRS for complicating the project further and accused the ruling party of misleading the public with false figures, referring to it as a “Goebbels campaign.”
Sridhar Babu explained that the state government had issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) to determine what specific works would be executed, including the installation of sewage treatment plants (STPs), sewer lines, and the construction of bridges. “There is still no clarity on the total project cost,” he added, sharply contrasting the clear-cut figure announced by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy back in July.
Earlier in July, after inaugurating the Gopanpally flyover, Revanth Reddy had declared that the Musi Riverfront project would require Rs 1.5 lakh crore, with plans for the project already in motion.
BRS Defends Its Previous Efforts on Musi Development
Attempting to shield the Congress from growing criticism, Sridhar Babu pointed out that it was the BRS government that had established the Musi Riverfront Development Corporation Limited in 2017. He noted that KT Rama Rao, the former Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister, had held multiple meetings on the matter, with the government at the time identifying 8,480 unauthorised structures. District Collectors of Hyderabad and Rangareddy were also instructed to complete master plans for the project.
However, Sridhar Babu failed to address the efforts made by the BRS government in cleaning the Musi River. The ruling party had already installed sewage treatment plants (STPs) and constructed bridges as part of a project proposed at Rs 16,000 crore. Out of this, Rs 4,000 crore had already been spent, ensuring that 94% of Hyderabad’s sewage was treated, a key achievement that Congress did not acknowledge.
More Congress Leaders Join the Debate
Other Congress leaders, including Roads and Buildings Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, stepped into the debate, asserting that the Congress was delivering “people’s governance” rather than adopting the BRS’s bulldozer approach. Venkat Reddy argued that the people of Nalgonda, Rangareddy, and Hyderabad had long suffered due to the polluted water of the Musi River. He compared the current fight to past struggles against Razakars and Seemandhra, emphasizing the need for a determined battle against those opposing the Musi River project.
Meanwhile, former MLA Mynampally Hanumanth Rao accused the BRS of defaming the HYDRAA agency and inciting public opposition to gain political mileage. He insisted that the Congress’s intentions were being twisted for political gains by the ruling party.
Congress Clarifies on HYDRAA and Musi Project
Nagarkurnool MP Mallu Ravi stepped in to differentiate between the HYDRAA demolitions and the Musi beautification project, clarifying that these were two distinct initiatives. He assured the public that no demolitions were being carried out near the Musi River without proper rehabilitation for affected individuals, countering allegations that Congress was neglecting those displaced by the project.
