`₹16K Cr to ₹5L Cr': KTR slams Congress govt for inflating Musi River project cost for `kickbacks'
KTR claimed that while the previous BRS regime had already prepared a master plan and completed groundwork
By Sistla Dakshina Murthy
BRS working president KT Rama Rao (File Photo)
Hyderabad: BRS working president KT Rama Rao (KTR) has accused the Congress government of inflating the cost of the Musi River purification and beautification project to facilitate large-scale corruption.
He claimed that while the previous BRS regime had already prepared a master plan and completed groundwork, the Congress escalated estimates from Rs 16,000 crore to an “unrealistic” Rs 1.5 lakh crore.
BRS claims ownership of project vision
KTR said it was the K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR)-led BRS government that conceptualised the Musi River development, prepared a Detailed Project Report (DPR), and allocated initial funds.
He highlighted that in 2022, the BRS government sanctioned Rs 1,100 crore to bring Godavari water from Kondapochamma Sagar to Gandipet lake as part of Hyderabad’s long-term water supply plan.
Sewage treatment and beautification works completed
Defending his party’s record, KTR said the BRS government had constructed 36 Sewerage Treatment Plants (STPs) with a combined capacity of treating 2,000 MLD of sewage flowing into the Musi.
He added that a 5-km beautification stretch at Nagole was completed and a Shilparamam cultural hub was established at Uppal Bhagayat as part of phase-one development.
Congress accused of inflated estimates
The BRS leader alleged that the Congress government has hiked project costs to Rs 1.5 lakh crore without justification.
“This is nothing but a ploy to loot public money and divert funds to Delhi under the pretext of urban development,” KTR alleged, warning that his party would expose the irregularities.
‘Double standards on Kaleshwaram’
KTR also hit out at Congress leaders for what he called their contradictory stand on the Kaleshwaram Project. “On one hand, they claim that Kaleshwaram has collapsed.
On the other hand, they are planning to use water from Kondapochamma Sagar, which is an integral part of the same project. The people of Telangana are watching these double standards,” he said.
