'Land grabbers lure families with cheap plots': CM vows to revive Musi, protect poor

Hyderabad: Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has vowed to transform the Musi River into a clean and vibrant urban landmark, while ensuring that no injustice is done to the poor living along its banks.

Inaugurating the restored Bathukamma Kunta lake at Amberpet, he stressed that development and rehabilitation will go hand in hand.

Musi will be revived, and the poor will be protected

Revanth Reddy made it clear that the Musi River would not remain a “drain of filth.” He directed officials to identify families displaced from the riverbed and provide them with proper alternatives.

Overall responsibility was handed over to the city in-charge minister, Ponnam Prabhakar, with a call for all MLAs in Musi constituencies to cooperate in the revival mission.

Flood-Ready Hyderabad through Lake Networks

Pointing to changing rainfall patterns, the Chief Minister said the city’s drainage system can handle just 2 cm of rainfall, whereas extreme weather events are now bringing up to 40 cm within hours. He underlined the need for interlinked lakes to prevent urban flooding, warning that lake encroachers would face tough action.

He noted that the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) was created to safeguard the city’s future. “Some misunderstood it, while others opposed it to protect their encroachments. Bathukamma Kunta itself is the answer to those doubts,” he remarked.

Amberpet to get Cluster of Government Offices

The Chief Minister also announced plans to build a hub of government offices in Amberpet on the lines of a mini-secretariat. Expressing surprise that no state offices exist in the constituency, he urged legislators across parties to prioritize civic development.

He also accepted local MLA Kaleru Venkatesh’s proposal to name the lake after senior Congress leader V Hanumantha Rao, recognizing his efforts for urban lake restoration.

“Don’t Fall for Encroachers’ Tricks”

Cautioning the poor, the Chief Minister said land grabbers often lure families with “cheap plots” in government lands, FTL zones, or public utility sites. “Some even build houses in the name of the poor and later sell them for profit. They will not be spared,” he warned.

He reiterated that this is a people’s government: “We will never trouble the poor, but we will always stand by them.”

HYDRAA explains lake revival efforts

HYDRAA Commissioner AV Ranganath highlighted that Bathukamma Kunta had once been encroached and reduced to a hub of antisocial activities.

Under the Chief Minister’s guidance, the lake was restored over 5.15 acres out of its original 16 acres, without disturbing existing homes. Bathukamma Kunta is the first of six lakes being revived in Phase I, with more to follow shortly, he said.

The inauguration was attended by City Mayor Gadwal Vijayalakshmi, MLA Kaleru Venkatesh, senior Congress leader V. Hanumantha Rao, Ministers Jupally Krishna Rao, Ponnam Prabhakar, Seethakka, GHMC Commissioner RV Karnan, and Hyderabad Collector Dasari Harichandan, among others.