Hyderabad: Chief minister Revanth Reddy on Friday stressed the need to rejuvenate the Musi river, saying the project was essential for the future of Hyderabad and inspired by riverfront developments he studied in cities such as London, Singapore, and Ahmedabad.Amid escalating political sparring over the proposed Musi rejuvenation project, Revanth mounted a strong defence of the initiative, accusing the opposition of spreading fear among families living along the river and challenging them to either suggest a compensation model per person or oppose the project in the assembly by moving a resolution.The CM said no govt seeking to return to power would harm the poor or render them homeless. He said around 10,000 families will be affected by the project. “The opposition is trying to create fear among the families who would be affected by the Musi project. Neither I nor the govt has any enmity with the poor. Any person with common sense will understand that no govt would displace the poor, and instead would like to help them so that it can return to power with their support,” Revanth said.The govt, he said, was ready to provide container homes with all facilities to opposition leaders so they could experience the living conditions along the polluted river. “Let them live for three months in the Musi bed to know the stench, mosquitoes, and toxic air in which the people are living there,” he said while presenting details of the Musi rejuvenation project at a meeting held in a city hotel.The first phase of the project—from Osmansagar to Gandhi Sarovar (Bapu Ghat) and from Himayatsagar to Gandhi Sarovar—covering stretches of 11.5 km and 9.5 km respectively, is expected to cost between Rs 6,500 crore and Rs 7,500 crore. The second phase will cover another 21 km stretch.Responding to criticism over the proposed Gandhi statue as part of the project, Revanth said the cost had been misrepresented by political opponents.“The Gandhi statue will cost a maximum of Rs 75 crore, but the opposition is telling lies that it would cost Rs 500 crore. The Ambedkar statue installed by the previous govt cost Rs 220 crore. We did not oppose it. We want Ambedkar ideology. Likewise, we want Gandhi’s ideology of non-violence too. He won a war against the British with non-violence, but some forces killed him months after we achieved Independence,” he said.Revanth said the govt was ready to discuss the project in detail in the assembly and invited suggestions from opposition parties. He alleged the criticism stemmed from political jealousy. “They are opposing the project because they are jealous and do not want CM Revanth and the Congress govt to inscribe their names in history forever by completing the Musi project, like the Nizams are remembered for building Osmansagar, Himayatsagar, historic monuments, cultural, tourism, and economic hubs,” he said.Dismissing allegations that the project was conceived for real estate gains, the CM said the larger objective was to revive the river and safeguard the city’s future.“The project is to revive the Musi river, save the city, or else future generations will not forgive us. Yes, as the CM I will also think of real estate, as we need to build infrastructure to attract investments, create jobs, and develop the city as the best in the world,” he said.The detailed project report (DPR) for the Musi rejuvenation initiative was prepared by an international consortium comprising Singapore-based Meinhardt, Cushman and Wakefield, and RIOS. The govt paid around Rs 160 crore for preparing the DPR, he said.He added that defence and army authorities had agreed to provide land required for the Gandhi Sarovar and Musi project and questioned why the opposition continued to resist the initiative.“Even people of the Old City, MPs, and MLAs are volunteering to give their land for good compensation but want development. The welcome people gave me on my way to rejuvenated Nalla Cheruvu at Kukatpally was like the one given when someone returns after winning a war or winning a World Cup,” he said.
