Musi Rejuvenation Project cost not finalised; Rs 1.5 lakh cr covers multiple projects: Sridhar Babu

Hyderabad: “The cost of the Musi rejuvenation project has not yet been decided,” said Telangana Minister for Industries D Sridhar Babu, in reply to a query during the Question Hour at Telangana Legislative Council here on Tuesday.

Sridhar Babu also asserted that the Rs 1.50 lakh crore that Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy had announced was not for the Musi project alone but rather for a number of upcoming projects in and around Hyderabad. “The Chief Minister never mentioned spending an entire Rs 1.50 lakh crore on the Musi rejuvenation project,” he added.

‘Opposition politicising the issue’

In addition to other significant projects upcoming in and around Hyderabad, the Rs 1.50 lakh crore includes the Regional Ring Road (RRR) expressway project, elevated corridor project, STPs and connecting roads. "The Opposition parties were unnecessarily trying to politicise the issue and causing unnecessary confusion," he said.

The anticipated cost of the project will be determined once the Aggregate Consortium Master Plan consultant, who recently joined the team, completes the Detailed Project Report (DPR), Sridhar Babu said. He also claimed that the DPR had not been prepared and that the opposition parties were needlessly raising issues regarding the project's expense.

‘Why did Congress seek funds without DPR?’

“As many as 181 houses were demolished voluntarily by the displaced family themselves, and 309 families who lived in the flood-prone Musi riverbank area moved voluntarily,” the minister said.

"On what basis did the Congress government have sought Rs 4,100 crore from the World Bank for the execution of the Musi Rejuvenation Project without preparing a DPR," asked BRS MLC Kavitha

"How can Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy inform Union Minister G Kishan Reddy that Rs 14,100 crore will be spent on the Musi Rejuvenation Project and seek his permission along with the funds? If it is true that the government has sought support from the Centre and the World Bank, then why are they misleading the House and the people," Kavitha questioned.

Where are letters of consent for demolition, asks Kavitha

Additionally, the MLC also requested that the government display the letters of consent written by individuals for the demolition of their homes. "For residences that are demolished, who will pay the EMI, the individual or the government? It is time for the government to provide a clarification on this. We will file a privilege motion against the government if it provides us with inaccurate information regarding the demolition of Musi," the MLC said.

The State government contacted the World Bank for the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board's sewerage works, not the Musi project, Sridhar Babu said. He added the BRS leaders might go to the Hyderabad collector to obtain the consent letters from the residents of the Musi riverbed whose homes were demolished.