BJP accuses Congress of ‘deception’ over Musi project, alleges forced evictions

The Telangana BJP has accused the Congress government of creating “confusion” and “resorting to deception” over the Musi Riverfront Beautification Project, claiming that the administration has not clearly explained the scope of the initiative even as homeowners who received eviction notices remain in fear and uncertainty.

Party president N. Ramchander Rao, talking to the media at Langar Houz on Thursday, questioned the government’s claims of offering compensation to displaced families. “What compensation can it give when it has no land left after selling away 1.5 lakh acres of public land?” he asked.

Earlier, he met affected families under the campaign ‘Musi Suffering and BJP Assurance’, where residents expressed anguish over the prospect of losing their homes, with some breaking down while recounting their situation. The BJP chief visited various stretches along the Musi beginning with Bapu Ghat after paying homage at the Mahatma Gandhi statue.

Several residential colonies in Bandlaguda Jagir, including Madhu Park Ridge Apartments with over 450 homes and around 170 houses in Vigneshwara Colony, have received eviction notices while attempts are also being made to acquire farmlands in Hyderguda where vegetables are grown and supplied to the city, he alleged.

Even houses constructed with proper government approvals within the 12 metre buffer zone near Madhuwan Park Residency were being marked for demolition. Among the residents are former personnel of the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

Mr. Rao demanded that the government immediately halt “forced demolitions” linked to the proposed Gandhi Sarovar Project, a component of the Musi beautification plan. “Development cannot come at the cost of pushing people into misery and for real estate interests,”he said”. He assured residents that the BJP would support them until “justice is done”.

The BJP leader suggested that the government focus first on cleaning the Musi, including setting up effluent treatment plants, stopping industrial discharge and sewage flow into the river, and constructing retaining walls to reduce flooding.

He asserted that the BJP is not opposed to Musi beautification or river purification but criticised the use of HYDRAA (Hyderabad Disaster Response & Asset Protection Agency) to remove what the government terms “illegal encroachments”. Citing a comparison, the leader said that the Gujarat Sardar Sarovar project was executed “scientifically without demolishing poor people’ homes” while also promoting tourism and creating employment.