Congress team visits Sabarmati Riverfront and compares it with Musi Rejuvenation

Hyderabad

A team of the Telangana Congress, comprising Sports Minister Vakiti Srihari, MP Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy, and Government Whip Beerla Ailaiah, among others, visited the iconic Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad on Sunday. Around 10,000 families were relocated as part of the Sabarmati riverfront development, they found out.

Their visit was in response to BJP State president N. Ramchander Rao’s allegation that not a single family was displaced during the Sabarmati Riverfront project while thousands were being displaced due to Musi rejuvenation project.

Speaking to the media after the visit, Mr. Chamala Kiran Reddy cited officials as stating that between 2004 and 2014, around 10,000 families were relocated as part of the Sabarmati riverfront development. “Leaders like Ramachandra Rao and T. Harish Rao should understand the facts before making statements,” he said.

Mr. Reddy said that the Sabarmati River has been rejuvenated for 22 kilometres, transforming it into a major urban landmark. The project involved diversion of water from Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) and from the Narmada River.

Drawing a parallel with Hyderabad, he said the Musi River also holds immense potential for redevelopment. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy is making determined efforts to rejuvenate the Musi and bring water from the Godavari River to merge into it.

“The Chief Minister is committed to providing irrigation and drinking water facilities Nalgonda district along with ensuring Musi rejuvenation brings in economic benefits to Hyderabad,” the MP said.

He rejected BJP leader Ramachandra Rao’s claim that there is no connection between the Sabarmati and Musi rivers, and asserted that the core objective in both cases is river rejuvenation and urban development.

Mr Reddy alleged that leaders from the BRS and BJP are opposing the Musi project fearing that successful completion would strengthen the Chief Minister’s position. He invited Opposition leaders to visit Ahmedabad, interact with officials and learn about the Sabarmati model firsthand before opposing.